play
- noun
- /pleɪ/
- Many gamblers believe that a smart play can lead to big winnings at the casino.
Examples
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He made a risky play by betting all his chips on the next hand.
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Students also received $80 of play money that they kept in their wallets and used during their trip.
Academic text (2003) -
You got your cards, I got my cards, we made our play, and I came out on top, okay?
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Right now, the game went out to 50 cent start 25 cent to continue play.
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Download prize picks today and play daily fantasy sports.
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There's a lot of money at play.
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In many games, the best play can sometimes make the difference between winning and losing.
Synonyms
Idioms
- Informal
Act in a careless way by ignoring rules and other people's feelings
Not part of the game, for example when the ball or a player leaves the playing area
- Offensive
To pretend to be treated unfairly to get sympathy or avoid blame
- Literature
To mention someone's gender to gain an advantage in a discussion
- Informal
To put a lot of effort into work and enjoy free time actively
- Slang
Tell someone angrily to do something dangerous to stop them complaining
Compounds
Honest behavior that treats everyone the same and follows the rules in sport or competition
- Literature
A play where characters are good or bad qualities to teach right and wrong
- Specialized
Works as soon as you connect or install it without needing any setup
A golf contest where each hole is a separate game and the player who wins more holes wins the contest
- Specialized
A play in American football where a player throws the ball forward to a teammate
- Jargon
A baseball or softball play when the defending team gets three players out in one action
- Jargon
A football play where the quarterback fakes a pass then hands the ball to a running back
- Jargon
The normal action during a game not counting set pieces like free kicks or penalties
A planned move in American football by the team with the ball to move it or score
- Literature
A play from the Middle Ages that tells Bible stories, often about Jesus, performed for people
A group performance where actors read a play aloud without full sets or learning lines
- Jargon
A baseball play where a runner on third base tries to score as the batter bunts
- Specialized
A play where a runner must advance and a fielder with the ball touches the base first
- Jargon
A baseball play where a runner on third base waits for a bunt then runs home to avoid being out
- Literature
A short ancient Greek play mixing serious drama with rude comedy and actors dressed as half-man, half-goat creatures
- Jargon
A risky baseball play where the runner on third base runs home while the batter bunts
- Jargon
A play that lets a defender pass the start line then blocks them to open a gap for the runner
How Risky
Surface Forms
Etymology
Play comes from the old English plega, meaning 'game' or 'action', and because people long ago 'played' games for money the word also grew to mean gambling, so 'play' can mean betting or gaming.