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to toy

to toy

67 5.5
To handle something in a playful, not serious way
  • verb
  • /tɔɪ/
translation icon : jugar con
  • You are mine to toy with.
  • toy with the idea
  • toy with the notion
  • toy for a while

I bought the Dyson air wrap and I've just been kind of toying with it.

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Examples

  • What happened to the book you were toying with?

  • I tell you not to toy with me; now I play the word games with you.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Maybe it would be more fun to toy with them for a while.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • He likes to toy with his opponents, give them hope.

  • The United States and Russia have long toyed with the idea of having an energy dialogue.

    Academic text (2009)
  • But I'm actually toying with the idea of becoming a citizen.

  • In college, she toyed with many subjects, but ultimately found herself attracted to African history.

    Academic text (2005)
  • You're toying with me, aren't you?

  • The Federal Reserve is toying with deploying a third round of monetary stimulus.

    Academic text (2011)
  • As a child, I often toyed with the idea of becoming an astronaut, dreaming of space travel.

Synonyms

to play
vsto toy
2.5

Behave in a way to trick or amuse someone

is narrower focusing on playful handling rather than general acting
to fiddle
vsto toy
  • Informal
41 4.7

To touch or move something without a clear purpose

is more playful and less experimental or restless
to flirt
vsto toy
36 5.1

Behave carelessly with danger or ideas without really meaning it

is playful and light rather than risky or irresponsible
to toy with
vsto toy
29 4.5

To think about an idea or plan without deciding

is playful handling rather than just casual consideration
to diddle
vsto toy
  • Informal
1 8.6

To play with something in your hands without thinking

is playful rather than merely absent-minded handling
to tiddle
vsto toy
  • UK
9.9

To touch or move something lightly with your hands

is broader covering playful handling beyond light touching

Phrasal Verbs

29 4.5

To think about an idea or plan without deciding

Compounds

sex toy
  • NSFW
12 3.8

An object people use to give private physical pleasure to a person

5 1.8

A small model of a soldier that children play with

4 1.0

A box for keeping children's toys

2 2.8

An industry that makes and sells toys for children

2 1.0

A large box that holds children's toys

2 2.3

Companies that make and sell toys for children

1 3.2

A very small dog that people breed and keep as a pet in homes

1 2.8

A very small dog with curly hair kept as a pet that does not shed much

adult toy
  • Offensive
1 6.6

A device adults use for sexual pleasure, like a vibrator

1 3.8

A very small dog kept as a pet that often sits on a person's lap

1 3.7

A very small lively dog often kept as a pet

Small British dog with long soft fur, a round head, and a short turned up nose

1.0

A small object children use to play with sand, like a bucket or shovel

A very small terrier dog with short black and tan fur that likes to run and play

A small companion dog with short black and tan fur and a lively nature

How Serious

to act on
145 3.2
to examine
868 2.5
to consider
1.1
to toy
67 5.5
to play around
  • Informal
47 3.4

Surface Forms

toy infinitive
toyed past
toyed past participle
toying present participle
toys third person singular

Etymology

The verb toy comes from treating something like a plaything, from old French toie meaning 'play'. So to toy with an idea or object is to play with it or treat it in a light, not serious way.