to play false
1
8.1
- phrasal verb
:
engañar
- It's in your very nature to play false with your illicit lover.
Examples
-
When he plays false, acting as if he supports the project, it's clear he only wants the credit for himself.
-
Do not play false with it, just let it emerge.
Blog text (5) -
She tried to play false with her friends, pretending she cared for their advice while really wanting to use them for her own gain.
-
He often plays false in negotiations, portraying goodwill while secretly plotting to undermine his opponents.
Synonyms
∞
1.3
To say something that is not true to trick someone
∞
2.3
To act as if something is true when it is not
326
3.5
To make someone believe something false so you can get what you want
270
3.9
To make someone believe something that is not true to get an advantage
146
6.2
To trick someone so they appear guilty by using false evidence
40
7.2
Pretend to feel something, like surprise or interest, to trick other people
15
3.0
To make someone believe something that is not true as a joke
14
8.9
To trick someone by using false words or charm
14
7.4
To use secret or unfair actions to gain power at work
11
8.3
To trick someone by pretending you want to help them
11
7.4
To make someone believe something that is not true
7
8.2
To trick someone by hiding the truth
7
7.4
Treat someone as stupid to trick or cheat them
6
2.8
To fool someone as a joke
5
8.1
To trick someone to gain an advantage
3
7.7
Make someone do what you want without them noticing
1
9.5
To trick someone by using clever talk
To pretend to be someone else to trick people
To trick someone easily so you can get what you want
Act in a clever, tricky way to fool others
To trick someone as a joke
Trick someone so they end up worse off
How Deceptive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'play' (to act) combined with 'false' (deceptive) yields 'act deceitfully' or 'behave dishonestly,' so a learner who knows both words can infer the sense. This follows common verb+adjective composition patterns (e.g., 'play fair,' 'play safe'), making the expression transparent despite being somewhat formal or less frequent.
Etymology
The verb play false may come from the image of a musician who on purpose plays the wrong notes so the music is not 'true.' That's why play false now means to 'deceive' or trick someone by pretending to be honest.