| 词汇 | play |
| 释义 | play Theme: FINANCIAL n. an attractive investment; a way to make some money in the securities markets.I just heard about a good play in the options market.Not talking it over with your friends first was a bad play.Buying bonds at a discount is an interesting play. Theme: SCHEME n. a strategy; a plan of action.That was a bad play, Bill. We lost the account.Here's a play that worked for us last year at this time. IDIOMSLANG PLAY fun and games playing around; doing worthless things. (Informal. Fixed order.)All right, Bill, the fun and games are over. It's time to get down to work.This isn't a serious course. It's nothing but fun and games. hide-and-seek a guessing game where one has to find something or figure out something that is concealed or disguised. (Also literal when referring to a game where a person hides and another person tries to find the hidden person. Fixed order.)I am tired of running up against a game of hide-and-seek every time I ask to see the financial records of this company.I have been trying to see the manager for two days. Where is she? I refuse to play hide-and-seek any longer. I want to see her now! horse around to play around; to waste time in frivolous activities. (Informal.)Stop horsing around and get to work.The children were on the playground horsing around when the bell rang. horseplay physically active and frivolous play. (Informal.)Stop that horseplay and get to work.I won't tolerate horseplay in my living room. play around (with someone or something) and play about (with someone or something) to engage in some amusing activity with someone or something; to tease someone or something.Please don't play around with that vase. You'll break it.Don't play about with the parrot. It'll bite you.Bill and I were just playing around when we heard the sound of breaking glass. play ball (with someone) to play a ball game with someone. (Note the special baseball use in the second example.)When will our team play ball with yours?Suddenly, the umpire shouted, "Play ball!" and the game began. play 1. noun 1 sexual activity US, 1995. 2 a manoeuvre; a tactical move US, 1982. 3 a legitimate scheme or a criminal venture. From the previous sense US, 2000. 4 the deception surrounding a confidence swindle US, 1940. 5 in horse racing, a bet US, 1994.► in playfalling into a confidence swindle US, 1997 2. verb to work as a pimp; to hustle US, 1977.► play ball1. to have sex. Punning on BALL (to have sex) and 'play ball' (to cooperate with) US, 2001.2. to stop idling and start working US, 1977.3. to cooperate with someone else; occasionally applied to inanimate objects such as computers US, 1957.► play bingoto try to determine the reason for a cash shortage by comparing orders with receipts US, 1996.► play catch-upin an athletic contest, to try to catch up and surpass an opponent that at the moment is leading US, 1971.► play checkersto move from empty seat to empty seat in a cinema, looking for a sexual partner. Homosexual usage US, 1972.► play deadto act dumb US, 1953.► play for the other teamto be homosexual US, 1997.► play handballto smoke crack cocaine. A highly euphemistic code US, 1993.► play hard to getto resist amorous advances (especially while intending to acquiesce); hence, more generally, to be reluctant to comply with what is expected UK, 1945.► play hookey; play hookyto absent yourself from school or work US, 1848.► play inside rightto be mean with money. Rhyming slang for TIGHT, elaborated into football terminology UK, 1998.► play it by earto improvise as circumstances dictate. As a musician picking up a tune without sheet music to guide UK, 1984.► play it coolto remain calm and composed UK, 1942.► play mums and dads; play dads and mumsto have sex. An adult version of a children's game. 'Play fathers and mothers' is also recorded but in the strongest current usages it seems that the female comes first UK, 1967.► play past somethingto overcome an obstacle or impediment to progress US, 1972.► play silly buggersto be a nuisance; to cause trouble or disruption; to 'mess about' UK, 2001.► play someone cheapto assume that someone is stupid US, 1947.► play the blocksto idle on a street corner BAHAMAS, 1982.► play the chill1. to act calm US, 1920.2. to snub someone US, 1985.► play the kerbsto sell drugs on the street US, 1989.► play the queensto have sex with a passive, effeminate male prisoner US, 1984.► play the whaleto vomit AUSTRALIA, 1971.► play them as they layused as a wisely humorous acceptance of the need to work with what has been given to you US, 1992.► play too closeto take advantage of another's good nature by excessive teasing or abuse US, 1992.► play took and banjoto sing or whistle a secular tune on a Sunday or religious holiday BARBADOS, 1965.► play up to someoneto humour someone; to flatter someone, to take your cue from another; to behave according to expectations. Originally in theatrical use UK, 1809.► play with yourselfto masturbate. The earliest usage recorded of this sweet little euphemism is by James Joyce IRELAND, 1922 play along 1. play along to pretend to agree with someone or to do what they want you to do, in order to avoid annoying them or to get some advantage: Hugh realized that the only way to get more information was to play along.+ with I was surprised when she introduced me as her uncle, but I played along with it.2. play sb along to deliberately encourage someone to believe something that is not true, especially that you intend to marry them: Marcus has been playing that poor girl along for years.■ SIMILAR TO: string along informal play around 1. play around/about informal to behave in a silly way or waste time, when you should be being sensible: In this business you can't play around - you have to be in control all the time. We didn't mean to hurt him. We were just playing around, that's all.■ SIMILAR TO: fool around, mess around informal2. play around/about informal to have a lot of different sexual relationships, or to have a sexual relationship with someone who is not your husband, wife, or usual partner: I played around a bit when I was young, but now I've settled down with one man.+ with He started playing around with younger women.■ SIMILAR TO: sleep around, screw around spoken informal play around with 1. play around/about with sth informal to think about or try different ideas or different ways of doing something, especially before deciding which ones are best: I like to play around with different recipes and ingredients. It's a great song - apparently the group just got together and played around with different rhythms until they came up with it.■ SIMILAR TO: experiment (with), try out2. play around/about with sth informal to change something when it is not safe or sensible to do this: Don't play around with his diet while he's ill - stick to simple food. I don't think you should play about with a young girl's future like that.■ SIMILAR TO: mess around with informal play at 1. what's sb playing at? BrE spoken informal if you ask what someone is playing at, you want to know what they are doing or why they are doing it, because you are very surprised or annoyed by it: What the hell do you think you're playing at - going out at this time of night?2. play at sb/sth to pretend to be a particular type of person or to do a particular thing, usually as a game: Little girls often play at doctors and nurses.play at doing sth two little old ladies who were playing at being detectives■ SIMILAR TO: pretend to be3. play at sth to do a job or activity for only part of the time, and without being very serious about it: If you're serious about politics, you can't just play at it - it's your whole life. play back 1. play back sth • play sth back to listen to or watch something that has recently been recorded on a tape: He got home about midnight and played back the messages on his answerphone. As part of your training, we will record you teaching a class and then play it back to you.2. play back • play back sth • play sth back if a machine plays back sound or pictures, it produces them when you operate it: VHS machines can record and play back at three different speeds.playback n U when a machine produces the sound or pictures that are recorded on a tape: This machine has very high quality video playback. the playback speed play down 1. play down sth • play sth down to try to make people believe that something is less important or serious than it really is: The government has been trying to play down the scandal.play down the importance/seriousness/significance etc of sth State department officials sought to play down the significance of the visit.■ OPPOSITE: exaggerate2. play down sth • play sth down to try to make people believe that something is not likely to happen: Senior management has repeatedly played down the possibility of further redundancies.play down suggestions/expectations/fears etc Burns played down expectations of a breakthrough in negotiations.3. play down sth • play sth down to try to make an emotion that you are feeling less noticeable to other people: Donald tried to play down the fear in his voice. "I expect he'll be late," Cathy said, playing down her excitement. play off 1. play off especially BrE if people or teams that have the same number of points play off, they play the last game in a sports competition, in order to decide which one is the winner: At the end of the season, the top two teams will play off at Twickenham for the title.play-off n C a match between people or teams who have the same number of points, in order to decide the winner: Leeds fans will be able to watch their team's European Cup play-off against Stuttgart on Friday. the play-off final at Wembley2. play off sth AmE to deliberately use a fact, idea, or emotion in order to get what you want, often in an unfair way: This television show plays off the fears that many people in our society and culture have.■ SIMILAR TO: play on/upon, exploit3. play off each other AmE if two or more people or things play off each other, they go well together, and each one makes the other's good qualities more noticeable: During the interview the two brothers played off each other effectively. Seeing the majority of the artist's works together in one place is valuable, because they play off each other so well.■ SIMILAR TO: complement play off against play sb/sth off against sb/sth • play off sb/sth against sb/sth to encourage one person or group to compete or argue with another, in order to get some advantage for yourself: The seller's intention is to play one buyer off against another. At this age children often begin to test relationships - playing each parent off against the other, for example. play on 1. play on BrE to continue playing in a game of sport, even after an injury, or when someone has broken the rules: John Simpkins played on, despite an early injury. The referee signalled to play on.2. play on to continue playing a musical instrument, even though something has happened which might have stopped you: The conductor suddenly walked out, but the orchestra played on. play on/upon ! Play upon is more formal than play on and is mostly used in writing1. play on/upon sth to deliberately use a fact, idea, or emotion in order to do or get what you want, often in an unfair way: Advertising achieves its aim by playing on our weaknesses and emotions. The party's campaign played on the fear amongst white voters at the pace of de Klerk's reforms.■ SIMILAR TO: exploit, play off AmE2. play on sth especially AmE to use your position, influence, or strong qualities in order to do or get what you want, often in an unfair way: Some people said that she had played on her connections in order to get the job.3. play on sb's mind if something plays on your mind, you cannot stop thinking about it, and it worries or upsets you: "It wasn't your fault," Martha said. "You mustn't let it play on your mind."4. play on sth literary if light plays on a surface or an object, it falls on it and moves backwards and forwards across it: Daniel watched the sunlight playing on the roofs of the fishing village. play out 1. be played out if an event is played out, especially an exciting or important one, it takes place: The final scenes of their marriage were played out in a villa in St Tropez. At the time, this was just one of many conflicts being played out on the world stage.play out/play itself out especially AmE if an event plays out or plays itself out, it happens and finally ends with a particular result - used especially when you are considering what might happen: I don't know if he'll win again. We'll just have to see how the election plays out. No one knows yet how the debate on GM foods will play out.2. play out sth to act part of a play or film or pretend to be a particular type of person: The teacher chose three of the older children to play out the scene. Now she was a teenager, she could no longer play out the role of Daddy's little girl.■ SIMILAR TO: act out3. play out sth • play sth out if people play out their feelings, dreams etc, they express them by pretending that a particular situation is really happening: In a novel the writer is able to play out his own strange fantasies.■ SIMILAR TO: act out4. play out your career/the season etc to continue playing, especially for the same team, until the end of your career, until the end of the season etc: He turned down a contract offer that would have allowed him to play out his career with Kings.5. be played out to be so tired that you cannot do anything else: Lou's voice trailed into silence. She was played out - too exhausted even to weep.■ SIMILAR TO: be worn out, be shattered6. be played out if a mine is played out, all the coal, gold etc has been taken out of the ground: These people had hard lives, and when the mines played out, they moved on. play through play sth through • play through sth to play a piece of music from the beginning to the end: When I played the song through, it felt like I was young again. The four of them played through Mozart's string quartets. play up 1. play up sth • play sth up to emphasize a quality or a fact, in order to attract people's attention to it or to make it seem more important than it really is: When applying for a job, it's a good idea to play up your strong points in the opening paragraph. The newspapers would certainly play it up big - the murder of an American on the Appian Way.■ OPPOSITE: play down2. play up • play sb up not passive, usually progressive BrE informal if a part of your body plays up or plays you up, it causes you pain or trouble: Lawton's stomach was beginning to play him up. Bertie had given up alcohol because his heart was playing up.3. play up usually progressive BrE informal if a machine, an electrical system etc plays up, it is not working as well as it should: Is it all right if I borrow your car - My Renault's been playing up a bit recently. Nothing happened when I turned on the light - this was not a good time for the electrics to be playing up.4. play up • play sb up • play up sb BrE informal if children play up, or play someone up, they behave badly and cause trouble for the adult they are with, especially deliberately as a way of having fun: Some of the boys in our class really played up - especially when a teacher was new. Playing the teacher up was considered a normal part of school. play up to 1. play up to sb to try to make someone like you by behaving in a way you think will please them: Angy always played up to men - she enjoyed seeing how they reacted to her. Our speakers did not play up to reporters by handing them their speeches in advance.2. play up to an image/stereotype to behave in a way that people expect you to behave, because they think you are a particular type of person: Kevin Costner was considered a bit wild around Hollywood, and he played up to that image in the film True Romance. play upon ► see play on/upon play with 1. play with sth to keep touching something, or moving it from one position to another: Charlene was walking up and down and playing with her hair. All the time we were talking, he was playing with the money in his pocket.■ SIMILAR TO: fiddle (with)2. play with sth to try using different types of something, or different ways of doing something, especially before deciding which one is best: Making soup is a marvellous way of playing with different flavours. As an artist, he played with a variety of techniques.■ SIMILAR TO: play around with3. play with sth to consider an idea or a possibility, but not very seriouslyplay with the idea of doing sth When I left university, I played with the idea of teaching for a while.play with the possibility that There was a wonderful scene in the film, in which Willie and Marty play with the possibility that they could become lovers.■ SIMILAR TO: toy with4. play with sb/sth to treat someone in a way that is not sincere or fair and is likely to upset them, for example by pretending to love them: I hope you're not playing with Jane's feelings - she's such a nice person.5. play with sth if you play with words or ideas, you use them in a clever and unusual way in order to be funny: In all of his novels, Terry Pratchett has a way of playing with words that makes people laugh out loud.6. have time/money etc to play with to have time, money etc that is still available to be used: Don't panic - we've got plenty of time to play with! We'd spent all our money on a house, so there wasn't much left to play with.7. be playing with fire to be doing or dealing with something that is very difficult or dangerous: In dealing directly with terrorist organizations, the government is really playing with fire.8. play with yourself informal to touch your own sexual organs in order to give yourself pleasure: One of the teachers found him playing with himself in the showers.■ SIMILAR TO: masturbate, jerk off AmE informal, toss off BrE informal play1. n. a strategy; a plan of action. That was a bad play, Bill. We lost the account. 2. n. an attractive investment; a way to make some money in the securities markets. I just heard about a good play in the options market. play/act the fool1. To act in an irresponsible or foolish manner. 2. To behave in a playful or comical manner.
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