P
Idioms beginning with "P"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
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Contents of P:
[play fair] {v. phr.}
To do what is right to others; act in a fair and truthful way.
The boys like the principal because he always plays fair.
* /Mary would not date any other boys while Jim, her favorite boyfriend, was away; she said that would […]
[play fast and loose] {v. phr.}
To do as you please without caring what will happen to other people; act so carelessly or unfairly that people cannot depend on you; be very unreliable.
He played fast and loose with the girl's affections.
* /He […]
[play footsie] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal}
1. Touch the feet of a member of the opposite sex under the table as an act of flirtation.
Have you at least played footsie with her?
2. To engage in any sort of flirtation or collaboration, especially […]
[play for keeps] {v. phr.}
To take an action of finality and irreversibility.
"Are you serious about me?" she asked. "Yes," he replied. "I want to marry you. I play for keeps."
[play hard to get] {v. phr.}
To act as if one weren't interested; be fickle; be coy.
"Professor Brown is playing very hard to get," our dean said, "but I know he will accept our offer and come to teach here."
[play havoc with] or [raise havoc with] {v. phr.}
To cause destruction; ruin; injure badly.
The storm played havoc with the apple orchard.
When Ralph was arrested for stealing the car, it played havoc with his plans for going to college.
* […]
[play hooky] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To stay out of school to play.
Carl is failing in school because he has played hooky so many times during the year.
[play into one's hands] {v. phr.}
To be or do something that another person can use against you; help an opponent against yourself.
In the basketball game, Jerry's foul played into the opponents' hands.
* /Mary and Bobby both wanted the last piece […]
[play off] {v.}
1. To match opposing persons, forces, or interests so that they balance each other.
The girl played off her admirers against each other.
* /Britain tried to play off European nations against each other so that she would have a […]
[play on] or [play upon] {v.}
1. To cause an effect on; influence.
A heavy diet of television drama played on his feelings.
2. To work upon for a planned effect; excite to a desired action by cunning plans; manage.
* /The makeup salesman played […]