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play on
verb
- adverb to continue to play
- Alsoplay upon preposition to exploit or impose upon (the feelings or weakness of another) to one's own advantage
- adverb cricket to hit the ball into one's own wicket
Idioms and Phrases
Also, play upon . Take advantage of or make use of for a desired effect, as in These health care ads are meant to play on our fears . This idiom uses play in the sense of “performing on an instrument.” Shakespeare used it in Hamlet (3:2): “You would play upon me; you would seem to know my stops.” [Late 1500s]Example Sentences
The film will play on big screens at Laemmle’s theaters in Encino and Santa Monica beginning Friday.
Doncic couldn’t play on the defensive string the Lakers all needed to be pulling on, Minnesota’s easy baskets leading to James’ open frustration toward the Lakers’ bench.
The pair both came through the Barca academy, La Masia, and both play on the right wing.
But the Oilers wouldn’t quit, cutting the deficit with 12:09 to play on the first of Bouchard’s two goals.
Ford kicked a penalty in a more controlled second half as Sale secured the win that lifts them above Bristol Bears and Leicester Tigers, who both play on Saturday.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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