- play someone off
- bring people into conflict or competition for one's own advantage
China can no longer play one superpower off against the other
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
play someone off
Look at other dictionaries:
play someone off — bring other people into conflict for one s own advantage. → play … English new terms dictionary
send someone off — (Sport)ORDER OFF, dismiss; show someone the red card; informal red card, send for an early bath, sin bin. → send * * * instruct someone to go; arrange for someone s departure she sent him off to a lecturing engagement ■ (of a referee, esp. in… … Useful english dictionary
play — play1 [ pleı ] verb *** ▸ 1 take part in sport/game ▸ 2 make music/sound ▸ 3 have part in play, etc. ▸ 4 when children have fun ▸ 5 when light moves ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) intransitive or transitive to take part in a sport or game: The girls are out… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
play — verb 1》 engage in games or other activities for enjoyment rather than for a serious or practical purpose. ↘amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretence. ↘(play with) treat inconsiderately for one s own amusement: she likes to play… … English new terms dictionary
play off against — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms play off against : present tense I/you/we/they play off against he/she/it plays off against present participle playing off against past tense played off against past participle played off against play someone… … English dictionary
play — play1 W1S1 [pleı] v ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(children)¦ 2¦(sports/games)¦ 3¦(music)¦ 4¦(radio/cd etc)¦ 5¦(theatre/film)¦ 6 play a part/role 7 play ball 8¦(pretend)¦ 9¦(behave)¦ 10 play games … Dictionary of contemporary English
play — 1 /pleI/ verb 1 CHILDREN (I, T) when children play, they do things that they enjoy, often together or with toys: The children ran off to play on the beach. | play sth: The boys were playing soldiers. | I don t want to play that game! (+ with):… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
play off — verb set into opposition or rivalry let them match their best athletes against ours pit a chess player against the Russian champion He plays his two children off against each other • Syn: ↑pit, ↑oppose, ↑match • Derivationally related for … Useful english dictionary
play — /pleɪ / (say play) noun 1. a dramatic composition or piece; a drama. 2. a dramatic performance, as on the stage. 3. exercise or action by way of amusement or recreation. 4. fun, jest, or trifling, as opposed to earnest: he said it merely in play …
play*/*/*/ — [pleɪ] verb I 1) [I/T] to take part in a sport or game The children were playing football in the park.[/ex] He played for AC Milan before he was transferred to Arsenal.[/ex] 2) [I/T] to compete against someone in a sport or game She plays the… … Dictionary for writing and speaking English
