play // verb, noun

■ verb [no obj] (especially AmE)

1

to have a particular effect on sb:

Providing good service plays well with customers.

IDIOMS

have money, time, etc. to play with (informal)

to have a particular amount of money, time, etc. for doing sth:

We don't have a lot of money to play with.

play ball (with sb) (informal)

to be willing to work with other people in a helpful way, especially so that sb can get what they want:

Most airlines wanted to put up domestic fares, but one refused to play ball.

HARDBALL

play by sb's (own) rules

if sb plays by their own rules or makes other people play by their rules they set the conditions for doing business

play by the rules

to deal fairly and honestly with people:

They were a well-run company and played by all the rules, but still failed.

play catch-up (especially AmE)

to try to be as good or successful as a competitor:

They are one of the biggest companies in the industry and we're always playing catch-up with them.

play for high stakes

to be involved in an activity where you can lose a lot if it fails, but gain a lot if it is successful

play the (stock) market

to buy and sell shares in order to make a quick profit:

Not all investors wish to take a risk by playing the market.

Playing the stock market can bring rich rewards.

play a (key, major, vital, etc.) part/role (in sth); have a (key, major, vital, etc.) part/role to play (in sth)

to be involved in sth and have an important effect on it:

She had played a key role in the growth of the business.

Financial rewards play an important part in motivating staff.

E-learning has a vital role to play in training.

Government policy had played a part in the decline of manufacturing industries.

play second fiddle (to sb/sth)

to be treated as less important than sb/sth; to have a less important position than sb/sth else:

The euro had to play second fiddle to the dollar for a while.

I'm not going to play second fiddle to anyone.

play the system

to use a set of rules that control sth in a way that gives you an advantage:

The developers are experts at playing the planning system.

play to your strengths

to give your attention and effort to things that you do well; to give sb the opportunity to do this:

Each member of the team should have a task that plays to their strengths.

PHRASAL VERBS

play sth back

to play telephone messages that have been recorded:

Press 2 to play back your messages.

play sth down

to try to make sth seem less important than it is:

They had made serious losses and were trying to play them down.

The Bank tried to play down fears of a fall in consumer spending.

The government is trying to play down the scale of the problem.

OPP PLAY STH UP

play for sth

to try to gain sth; to compete with sb for sth:

There is still 96% of the company to play for.

play out; play itself/themselves out

to develop or end or in a particular way:

Let's make a decision on this and see how it plays out.

We had to wait to see how the situation played itself out.

play sth up

to try to make sth seem more important than it is:

I played up my previous experience in the industry.

OPP PLAY STH DOWN

■ noun

PLUG AND PLAY, PURE PLAY, ROLE PLAY

1 [U]

the activity or operation of sth; the influence of sth on sth else:

the free play of market forces

Unemployment figures have fallen but there may be seasonal factors at play.

2 (Stock Exchange , informal) [C]

an act of investing money in particular shares, bonds, etc:

Although the shares are not cheap, they are a defensive play that won't let you down.

IDIOMS

bring/call sth into play

to begin to use sth:

More funding will be brought into play.

come into play

to begin to be used or to have an effect:

A number of factors come into play when you ask people to work together in groups.

The tax only comes into play when profits reach %1.5 m a year.

in play

if a company is in play, it can be bought by another company:

The company has been put in play as a takeover target.

make a play for sb/sth

to try to obtain sth; to do things that are intended to produce a particular result:

She was making a play for the sales manager's job.

• economy
• economy class
• economy drive
• economy of scale
• economy of scope
• economy-size
• ecotourism
• ECR
• e-currency
• ED
• EDC
• edge
• EDI
• EDR
• edutainment
• EEA
• EEC
• e-enabled
• EEO
• EEOC
• effect
• effective
• effective age
• effective capacity
• effective date