play

Word family noun play interplay replay player playfulness playletplay-actingplaybackplaybillplaybookplayboyPlaybusplay-by-playplay dateplayfellowplaygroundplaygroupplayhouseplaying cardplaying fieldplayleaderplaylistplaymakerplaymateplaypenplayroomplayschoolplayslipplaysuitplaythingplaytimeplaywrightadjective playful playable playsomeplayed-outverb play outplay replay adverb playfully

Related topics: Other games, Theatre, Music

play1 /pleɪ/ S1 W1 verb

1 children 儿童 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]DGO when children play, they do things that they enjoy, often with other people or with toys 玩，玩耍

Kids were playing and chasing each other.

孩子们在互相追逐嬉闹。

play catch/house/tag/school etc

Outside, the children were playing cowboys and Indians.

孩子们在外面玩牛仔和印第安人的游戏。

play with

Did you like to play with dolls when you were little?

你小时候喜不喜欢玩洋娃娃？

Parents need to spend time just playing with their children.

父母应该花时间和自己的孩子一起玩耍。

2 sports/games 运动/比赛

a) [intransitiveI, transitiveT]PLAY A GAME OR SPORT to take part or compete in a game or sport 参赛，参加〔比赛或运动〕

Karen began playing basketball when she was six.

卡伦六岁时开始打篮球。

If you feel any pain, you shouldn’t play.

如果你觉得疼，就不该参赛。

Men were sitting in the park, playing cards.

男人们坐在公园里打牌。

play against

Bristol will play against Coventry next week.

下周布里斯托尔队将迎战考文垂队。

She’s playing Helen Evans in the semi-final (=playing against her).

半决赛中她将迎战海伦·埃文斯。

play for

Moxon played for England in ten test matches.

莫克森代表英格兰队参加过十场国际板球对抗赛决赛阶段比赛。

b) [transitiveT] to use a particular piece, card, person etc in a game or sport 〔比赛中〕走〔子〕；出〔牌〕；派〔某人〕出场

Harrison played a ten of spades.

哈里森出了一张黑桃十。

The Regents played Eddie at center (=used him as a player in that position) in the game against Arizona.

在和亚利桑那州立大学队的比赛中，理真大学队派埃迪上场担任中锋。

c) [intransitiveI, transitiveT] to take a particular position on a team 〔在某运动队中〕担当，充任

Garvey played first base for the Dodgers.

加维在道奇队中打一垒。

d) [transitiveT] to hit a ball in a particular way or to a particular place in a game or sport 〔在比赛或运动中〕击〔球〕，打〔球〕

She played the ball low, just over the net.

她把球打得很低，刚刚过网。

3 music 音乐 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]

PERFORMto perform a piece of music on a musical instrument 演奏，弹奏

He’s learning to play the piano.

他在学习弹钢琴。

She played a Bach prelude.

她演奏了一首巴赫的前奏曲。

Haden has played with many jazz greats.

黑登和许多著名的爵士乐手合作过。

A small orchestra was playing.

一支小型管弦乐队在演奏。

4 radio/cd etc 广播/激光唱片等 [intransitiveI, transitiveT] if a radio, CD etc plays, or if you play it, it produces sound, especially music 播放

The bedside radio played softly.

床边的收音机播放着轻柔的乐曲。

play a record/CD/tape etc

DJs playing the latest house and techno tracks

播放着最新豪斯音乐和泰克诺音乐的音乐节目主持人们

5 theatre/film 剧院/电影

a) [transitiveT]APT to perform the actions and say the words of a particular character in a theatre performance, film etc 扮演〔角色〕

Streep plays a shy, nervous woman.

斯特里普扮演一个腼腆、神经质的女人。

play a role/part/character etc

Playing a character so different from herself was a challenge.

扮演一个和她本人如此不同的角色是个挑战。

b) [intransitiveI]APTPERFORM if a play or film is playing at a particular theatre, it is being performed or shown there 〔戏剧〕上演；〔电影〕上映

‘Macbeth’ is playing at the Theatre Royal in York.

《麦克白》正在约克的皇家剧院上演。

c) [transitiveT]APTPERFORM if actors play a theatre, they perform there in a play 〔演员〕在〔剧院〕演出

6 play a part/role EFFECT/INFLUENCEto have an effect or influence on something 〔在某事中〕起作用；〔在某事中〕有影响

play a part/role in

A good diet and fitness play a large part in helping people live longer.

合理的饮食和良好的健康状况在对人们寿命的延长起着重要作用。

Examples from the Corpus

play a part/role• Although the budget committees guide Congress's actions on spending, every committee plays a role.• The researchers said more investigation was needed into whether vaccinations or pesticides played a part.• But big-city gangsters also play a part.• Our goal is to make sure everyone plays a part and shares in the credit.• Sure, the Pentium chip plays a part, but other components provide the big difference.• Therefore, both over-confidence and under-confidence may play a part in creating an environment in which accidents happen more readily.• The New Man rejects traditional roles of parenthood and likes to play a part in decision-making.• Schneider played a key role in getting the organization started.• By speaking out about envy between women, comedy can play a part in helping us to heal it in ourselves.• He was six now and understood that I had played a role in his parents separation.• Together with the police everyone can play a part in improving the security of their neighborhood.• Luck has to play a part in it.• Men now play a larger part in looking after their children.• Hart clearly played a role in the decision to change admission standards.• The Secretary of State played a leading role in the government's successful foreign policy.• The most effective learning occurs when the child is allowed to play a more active role in the learning process.

7 play ball

a) to throw, kick, hit, or catch a ball as a game or activity 玩球类游戏

Jim and Karl were playing ball in the backyard.

吉姆和卡尔在后院玩球。

b) to do what someone wants you to do 听命

So far, the company has refused to play ball, preferring to remain independent.

这家公司至今不愿当傀儡，更希望保持独立。

Examples from the Corpus

play ball• It was a timeless scene: a brick house, a mown meadow, a man and his boy playing ball.• It seemed clear to us that we would always have the time to play ball and get better as we went along.• When they break a window playing ball or lose something that belongs to a friend, they should make amends.• She played ball, she had difficulty with spelling, and she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up.• He has no one to play ball with and tosses his ball against the wall in a most despondent fashion.• The editor would have doubled it, if you'd played ball with me.• There is a simple, inexpensive solution for those who refuse to play ball with the system.

8 pretend 假装 [linking verb]BEHAVE to behave as if you are a particular kind of person or have a particular feeling or quality, even though it is not true 假装，装扮

the accusation that scientists are playing God

对科学家扮演上帝的指责

Some snakes fool predators by playing dead.

有些蛇会以装死来蒙骗猎食者。

‘What do you mean?’ ‘Don’t play dumb (=pretend you do not know something).'

“你什么意思？”“别装糊涂了。”

Don’t play the innocent (=pretend you do not know about something) with me – we both know what happened.

别跟我装无辜，你我都知道出了什么事。

play the idiot/the teacher etc

Susan felt she had to play the good wife.

苏珊觉得自己必须扮成好妻子。

He played the fool (=behaved in a silly way) at school instead of working.

他在学校瞎混而不用功学习。

9 behave 表现 [transitiveT always + adverbadv/prepositionprep]BEHAVE to behave in a particular way in a situation, in order to achieve the result or effect that you want 〔以某种方式〕表现，行事

How do you want to play this meeting?

你想怎么开这次会议？

Play it safe (=avoid risks) and make sure the eggs are thoroughly cooked.

保险一点，一定要把这些蛋煮透。

play it carefully/cool etc

If you like him, play it cool, or you might scare him off.

你要是喜欢他，就别露声色，否则可能会把他吓跑。

10 play games HIDE/NOT SHOWto hide your real feelings or wishes in order to achieve something in a clever or secret way – used to show disapproval 耍花招，耍手段〔含贬义〕

Stop playing games, Luke, and tell me what you want.

别耍花招了，卢克，告诉我你想要什么。

Examples from the Corpus

play games• Don't waste time by playing games.• The Dauphin was showing Henry that he was just a stupid kid who should still be playing games.• I don't play games at all!• But Symington and the Legislature are simply playing games here.• Just going out to resupply some patrols on a secure road was so bland that we played games to make it interesting.• As a child she preferred playing games with boys to dressing up dolls.• If they want to play games with their parachutes, then that is their affair.• They can only create challenges for themselves, play games within the games.

11 play something by ear

a) to decide what to do according to the way a situation develops, without making plans before that time 见机行事，随机应变

We’ll see what the weather’s like and play it by ear.

我们将根据天气情况随机应变。

b) if someone can play a musical instrument by ear, they can play a tune without looking at written music 不看乐谱演奏

Examples from the Corpus

play something by ear• As he has no political party that can provide him with practical support, he is forced to play it by ear.• At 2, he played the piano by ear.• But the government is having to play it by ear.• He heard jazz records at home when very young and played piano by ear.• Well, she would play it by ear.• So each played it by ear, with resulting policy shifts that often appeared to be not only sudden but incomprehensible.

12. play a joke/trick/prank on somebody JOKEto do something to someone as a joke or trick 跟某人开玩笑，捉弄某人

Examples from the Corpus

play a joke/trick/prank on somebody• He had always played tricks on her.• Her brain had to be playing tricks on her.• Jack felt edgy but convinced himself that his nerves were playing tricks on him.• Somewhat perturbed, Ted flung the door open still believing that the platelayers were playing tricks on him.• In one of them, a man named Wakefield decides to play a joke on his wife.• Yes, fate was playing tricks on me.• They delight in playing tricks on mortals, though they will cease to give trouble if politely requested to do so.• It allowed me to detect instances when time played tricks on the memory of some of the respondents.

13 play the game

a) to do things in the way you are expected to do them or in a way that is usual in a particular situation 遵守规则，按规矩行事

If you want a promotion, you’ve got to play the game.

如果你想得到晋升，就要规规矩矩的。

b) FAIR British EnglishBrE to behave in a fair and honest way 办事公道，光明正大

Examples from the Corpus

play the game• Diillon won't get promoted if he's not willing to play the game.• Last year three hundred and sixty pupils were injured from three thousand schools who regularly play the game.• Most manufacturers have played the game.• Until that point we were really just playing the game.• We assume to start with that the weighted patterns provide a rough guide to playing the game.• He thought he was playing the game again.• Just like playing the game itself, it seems.• I know how to play the game myself.• While online, the user could play the game, which would be stored in short-term memory.

14 play the race/nationalist/environmentalist etc card to use a particular subject in politics in order to gain an advantage 打种族/民族主义/环保主义等的牌〔指使用某个政治话题来赢得优势〕

a leader who is skilfully playing the nationalist card to keep power

老练地打出民族主义牌以保持权力的一名领导人

Examples from the Corpus

play the race/nationalist/environmentalist etc card• Mugabe now plays the race card.• It will give the various groups and Tory Members who seek to play the race card the opportunity to do so.

15 play your cards right SUCCEED IN DOING somethingto say or do things in a situation in such a way that you gain as much as possible from it 做事精明，处理得当

Who knows? If you play your cards right, maybe he’ll marry you.

谁知道呢？如果你精明些，说不定他会娶你呢。

Examples from the Corpus

play your cards right• Oh, no - she knew how to play her cards right.• The domino effect can work for us as well as against us if we play our cards right.• This could all turn out for the best if he played his cards right.

16. play your cards close to your chest to keep secret what you are doing in a situation 对自己的行为秘而不宣

Examples from the Corpus

play your cards close to your chest• Roslin, known for playing his cards close to his vest, declined to comment.

17 play into somebody’s hands to do what someone you are competing with wants you to do, without realizing it 〔因做对手所希望的事〕正中对手下怀

If we respond with violence, we’ll be playing into their hands, giving them an excuse for a fight.

如果我们以暴力回应，就正中他们下怀，给了他们挑起争斗的借口。

Examples from the Corpus

play into somebody’s hands• And what good you, you silly fool, playing into my hands like this?• Whatever he did would play into the hands of Isambard, whose traps were always dual, and could not be evaded.• We should be careful not to play into the hands of murderers.• Such action, I believed - and still believe - would have played into the hands of my enemies.• This, the futures industry frets, would play into the hands of Rep.• It plays into the hands of the opposition.• It would be playing into his hands to react to his deliberate teasing.

18 play for time DELAYto try to delay something so that you have more time to prepare for it or prevent it from happening 为争取时间而拖延

The rebels may be playing for time while they try to get more weapons.

叛乱分子可能在拖延时间，想搞到更多的武器。

Examples from the Corpus

play for time• The governments, nervous, are playing for time.• The rebel's current ceasefire doesn't amount to much more than playing for time.• The U.S. strategy over the past weeks has been to play for time.• Henry's only plan at this moment was to play for time.• The confused evidence suggests they are acting on their own initiative, not on directives from East Berlin to play for time.• The government is playing for time.• Stop playing for time and give us an answer.• He decides, literally, to play for time and makes a debut at Nero's banquet that evening.• Truman played for time by appointing a brains trust of three to advise him.• Mr Kasyanov seems now to be playing for time, hoping to get through January without ferocious clashes with creditors.• Edmond Herv is a close friend and he tells me that sometimes you have to play for time to solve a problem.

19 play tricks (on you) if your mind, memory, sight etc plays tricks on you, you feel confused and not sure about what is happening 〔头脑、记忆、视力等〕使（某人）产生错觉

It happened a long time ago, and my memory might be playing tricks on me.

那是很久以前的事了，我记不清了。

Examples from the Corpus

play tricks (on you)• He had always played tricks on her.• Her brain had to be playing tricks on her.• Jack felt edgy but convinced himself that his nerves were playing tricks on him.• Somewhat perturbed, Ted flung the door open still believing that the platelayers were playing tricks on him.• Yes, fate was playing tricks on me.• They delight in playing tricks on mortals, though they will cease to give trouble if politely requested to do so.• It allowed me to detect instances when time played tricks on the memory of some of the respondents.• He knew, too, that his head had been aching and that his mind was capable of playing tricks upon him.

20. play the market BFSRISKto risk money on the stock market as a way of trying to earn more money 〔在证券市场〕买卖证券

Examples from the Corpus

play the market• For example: Do Social Security recipients want government playing the market?• The reverse, Adibi said, is true for those whose income is too low to play the market.• And this is why many growers are choosing to let their grain merchants play the markets for them.• The first swap was in December 1983 but the council had not begun to play the market in earnest until late 1987.

21 play the system ADVANTAGEto use the rules of a system in a clever way, to gain advantage for yourself 钻制度的空子〔使自己得益〕

Accountants know how to play the tax system.

会计师知道如何钻税收制度的空子。

Examples from the Corpus

play the system• Accountants know how to play the tax system.

22. play second fiddle (to somebody) (also play second banana informal)IMPORTANT to be in a lower position or rank than someone else （给某人）当第二把手[副手]，居次要地位

Examples from the Corpus

play second fiddle (to somebody)• Mr Pozsgay was simply fed up with playing second fiddle, a characteristic that was to re-emerge later.• Even the lyrics tend to play second fiddle and are generally added after the main melody has been composed.• He was never more than a B-movie actor, playing second fiddle to actors like Errol Flynn.• He had been a reluctant ally and may well have resented playing second fiddle to his younger brother.• The locals were not satisfied playing second fiddle to Los Angeles.• But putts and drives will play second fiddle to schmoozing when top sports celebrities take center stage at the golf club.• Throughout her married life she had to play second fiddle to the interests of her husband.• She might also have simply got tired of playing second fiddle to the Prince's pastimes.• So often he has played second fiddle to Wright and notched only nine goals last season to his partner's 30.

23. play hard to get PRETENDATTRACTto pretend that you are not sexually interested in someone so that they will become more interested in you 〔对异性〕欲擒故纵〔故意装出对某人不感兴趣的样子以吸引对方〕

Examples from the Corpus

play hard to get• You should call her again - I think she's just playing hard to get.• And they may not just be playing hard to get.• I am not going to suggest that you play hard to get.• If it was Viola, she was obviously playing hard to get.• It had nothing to do with teasing or playing hard to get.

24. smile 笑容 [intransitiveI always + adverbadv/prepositionprep] writtenSMILE if a smile plays about someone’s lips, they smile slightly 〔微笑〕浮现

25. play hooky American EnglishAmE, play truant British EnglishSE to stay away from school without permission 逃学，旷课

Examples from the Corpus

play hooky• Maricela Roman will never forget the day her own 4-year-old ratted on her when she tried to play hooky.• Abraham and MacGregor begin tasting that delicious sense of playing hooky from life, just like two big, naughty kids.• A boy playing hooky in Texas is not a criminal who is put away for study.

26 play with fire DANGEROUSto do something that could have a very dangerous or harmful result 做危险的事，玩火

Dating the boss’s daughter is playing with fire.

和老板的女儿约会是在玩火。

Examples from the Corpus

play with fire• Dating the boss's daughter is playing with fire.• The mask made him seem menacing, and she suddenly had the sensation that with Lucenzo she was playing with fire.• Failure to stick to the safety rules is simply playing with fire.• These men are criminals. If you get involved with them, you'll be playing with fire.• Charity stunt team warned ... you're playing with fire.• Roy Alon who appeared in many of the James Bond films said the team were playing with fire.• Sir Hugo advises Deronda not to play with fire.• So, your employer is playing with fire.• With Emma he had played with fire and narrowly escaped burning.• She was playing with fire, in Lydia's opinion.• Manchester United continue to play with fire, losing 2-1 against Anderlecht.

27 play to your strengths to do what you are able to do well, rather than trying to do other things 发挥自己的长处，拿出自己的优势

It is up to us to play to our strengths and try to control the game.

要靠我们发挥自己的优势，尽力控制比赛。

28 light 光线 [intransitiveI always + adverbadv/prepositionprep] writtenSHINE if light plays on something, it shines on it and moves on it 〔在…上〕闪烁，掠过

the sunlight playing on the water

在水面闪烁的阳光

29. water 水 [intransitiveI] written if a fountain plays, water comes from it 〔喷泉〕喷水

30. play a hose/light on something MOVE something OR somebodyto point a hose or light towards something so that water or light goes onto it 把软管/光线对准某处

31. play the field SEX/HAVE SEX WITHto have sexual relationships with a lot of different people 乱搞男女关系，滥交

Examples from the Corpus

play the field• Better chance to play the field.• Perhaps because he plays the field.• He gave up playing the field and married a year ago, to a sinewy woman called Cheryl Berkoff.• So she had played the field, enjoying male company without getting in too deep or too seriously.

32 play fast and loose with something to not be careful about what you do, especially by not obeying the law or a rule 不负责任地利用某物〔尤指不遵守法律或规定〕

They played fast and loose with investors’ money.

他们滥用了投资者的资金。

Examples from the Corpus

play fast and loose with something• They probably see it as a place where government plays fast and loose with tax dollars.• And there is his willingness to play fast and loose with the facts.• Besides, it is playing fast and loose with the statistics to take 1981 as the baseline for the Government's claims.• To say that the Wattersons had played fast and loose with their investors' capital was an understatement.• In what follows, I shall play fast and loose with these words and the subtle distinctions between them.

33. play happy families British EnglishBrE to spend time with your family, doing normal things, especially so that your family appears to be happy when it is not 维持幸福家庭的假象

PHRASAL VERBS

34 play around (also play about British English) phrasal verbphr v

a) SEX/HAVE SEX WITHto have a sexual relationship with someone who is not your usual partner 与〔某人〕鬼混

with

Wasn’t she playing around with another man?

她当时不是在和另一个男人鬼混吗？

It was years before I realized he’d been playing around.

多年以后我才察觉到他一直在拈花惹草。

b) to try doing something in different ways, to see what would be best, especially when this is fun 摆弄，把玩〔尤指好玩〕

with

Play around with the ingredients if you like.

如果你喜欢，可以随意搭配各种原料。

c) to behave in a silly way or waste time, when you should be doing something more serious 胡闹 SYN fool around

When the teacher wasn’t looking, we used to play about a lot.

老师不看着我们时，我们经常会瞎胡闹。

Examples from the Corpus

play with• Why were men able to play around with any sort of drab?• He played around with both boys and girls and he was capable of uncontrolled violence.• But generally they enjoy themselves and they play around with inventions and machines like nobody's business.• But Uncle liked to play around with it.• It is bad to play around with other people's wives and bad also to spy on President Amin.• She encourages customers to play around with samples so they feel they are helping to design their own rooms.• This can be corrected either in Photoshop or by simply playing around with the white balance.• But it wasn't really such a leap from paintings of riders to pictures of top-hatted toffs playing around with tousled tarts.

35 play around with something (also play about with something British English) phrasal verbphr v to keep moving or making changes to something in your hands 〔在手中〕摆弄，把玩 SYN fiddle with

Will you stop playing around with the remote control!

你能不能别再摆弄遥控器了！

36 play along phrasal verbphr v

a) PRETENDto pretend to agree to do what someone wants, in order to avoid annoying them or to get an advantage 假装顺从，暂且附和

She felt she had to play along or risk losing her job.

她觉得自己必须假装顺从，否则就有失业的危险。

b) play somebody along British EnglishBrELIE/TELL A LIE to tell someone something that is not true because you need their help in some way 〔因为需要某人的帮助而〕对某人撒谎，欺骗某人

37 play at something phrasal verbphr v

a) What is somebody playing at?DO British EnglishBrE spoken used when you do not understand what someone is doing or why they are doing it, and you are surprised or annoyed 某人在搞什么鬼？

What do you think you’re playing at?

你到底在搞什么名堂？

b) DO BADLYif you play at doing something, you do not do it properly or seriously 不认真地干，对…敷衍了事

play at doing something

He’s still playing at being an artist.

他对于当艺术家仍然三心二意。

c) PRETEND British EnglishBrE if children play at doctors, soldiers etc, they pretend to be doctors, soldiers etc 〔小孩〕假扮…玩

play at being something

a 14-year-old playing at being a grown woman

假扮成年女性的14岁少女

Examples from the Corpus

play at • But most nights, he gets only a few minutes, or may not play at all.• Deciding whether home-school students could choose to play at any public school or only the one in their attendance district.• By the time they finally play at home, everyone else will have long since had their home openers.• Darlington ladies held Boston well away from home and on the two rinks who played at the Morrison Centre.• Craig, who started in John Osborne plays at the Royal Court, reminds us what an excellent actor she is.• He had to learn his words, of course - perhaps for six different plays at the same time.• The limp tunes appear to be played at the wrong speed, stretching them out until they become transparent and meaningless.• It also gave Catholic a chance for its first bus ride to a game when it plays at Widener.

play at doing something• But most nights, he gets only a few minutes, or may not play at all.• By the time they finally play at home, everyone else will have long since had their home openers.• Craig, who started in John Osborne plays at the Royal Court, reminds us what an excellent actor she is.• Darlington ladies held Boston well away from home and on the two rinks who played at the Morrison Centre.• Deciding whether home-school students could choose to play at any public school or only the one in their attendance district.• He had to learn his words, of course - perhaps for six different plays at the same time.• It also gave Catholic a chance for its first bus ride to a game when it plays at Widener.• The limp tunes appear to be played at the wrong speed, stretching them out until they become transparent and meaningless.

play at being something• His attitude said he was letting her play at being a psychiatrist to please his godfather.• I liked to play at being bright.• What if I said they were just playing at being drop-outs?• Massless electron neutrinos playing at being heavy tau neutrinos might help solve either or both.• She made him feel like an insect playing at being human.• They can play at being still waters that run deep.• He has always played at being the happiest guy on earth, because he learned that the first trade is the hardest.

38 play something ↔ back phrasal verbphr v TCRto play something that has been recorded on a machine so that you can listen to it or watch it 回放〔已录制的录音带、录像带等〕

He played back his answering machine messages.

他回放了电话答录机中的留言。

Examples from the Corpus

play back• A surprise onside kick followed, then three drives of at least six plays.• However, as a compensation, I tend to draw comic devils playing fiddles.• Their two-try victory was built on a solid performance by the forwards and inventive play from the backs.• But the play was called back after Kofi Nartey was called for holding on the opposite side of the field.• There would be months in which they could play it back at leisure.• Can your Centre Forward put one in against Fatty Phil, or will he be playing Left Back in the changing rooms?• However, Turner was involved in another play that brought back some bad memories for Raiders fans.• The next day, when he had sobered up, she insisted on playing it back to him.

39 play something ↔ down phrasal verbphr v UNIMPORTANTto try to make something seem less important or less likely than it really is 使…看起来不那么重要，贬低，对…轻描淡写

Management has been playing down the possibility of job losses.

管理层一直淡化职位减少的可能性。

play down the importance/seriousness/significance of something

The White House spokeswoman sought to play down the significance of the event.

白宫女发言人试图淡化该事件的重要性。

Examples from the Corpus

play down• He's always playing himself down.• Miss Verjec blew her whistle and walked angrily towards those who had stopped playing and fallen down.• Odom, 26, did not play a down last season and retired last month.• Peter: Usually play football down the street, play footy.• The real surprise is that they played so badly down the stretch in both games and still managed to win.• I played well down the stretch.• The play settled down with its new cast.• Not the whiff of scandal; we played that down, wrongly, as it turned out.

play down the importance/seriousness/significance of something• As a corollary, AI-workers have tended to play down the importance of neurophysiological knowledge about the brain.• At a New York conference this week Mr Murdoch tried to play down the significance of the deal.• Perhaps it was good that Hooper did not take Charles's kindness, but instead played down the significance of the incident.• The first reaction from the Tour organisers was to play down the significance of Voet's arrest.

40 play off phrasal verbphr v

a) British EnglishBrE if people or teams play off, they play the last game in a sports competition, in order to decide who is the winner 决胜负

The top two teams will play off at Twickenham for the county title.

成绩最好的两支球队将在维克汉姆体育场为争夺郡冠军一决雌雄。

b) play off somebody/something American EnglishAmE to deliberately use a fact, action, idea etc in order to make what you are doing better or to get an advantage 故意压制某人/某物

The two musicians played off each other in a piece of inspired improvisation.

两位乐师在表演一首精彩的即兴曲时争强斗胜。

41 play somebody off against somebody phrasal verbphr v ARGUEto encourage one person or group to compete or argue with another, in order to get some advantage for yourself 〔为渔利而〕挑拨离间，使…相斗[对立，争吵]

The house seller may try to play one buyer off against another, to raise the price.

房子的卖家可能会在两位买主之间挑拨，目的是为了抬高房价。

Examples from the Corpus

play off against • Airlines usually negotiate privately with manufacturers, playing one off against another, of course.• The highly paid, like the corporations that employ them, are mobile, and can play one state off against another.• When mining companies and other investors rushed to Kinshasa to seek deals, he tried to play them off against each other.• The child may gravitate to the parent that is easier to manipulate or try to play one parent off against the other.• You need to present a united front and avoid taking sides or playing one child off against the other.

42 play on/upon something phrasal verbphr v USE somethingto use a feeling, fact, or idea in order to get what you want, often in an unfair way 利用〔某一感情、事实或观点〕

The ad plays on our emotions, showing a doctor holding a newborn baby.

广告中一名医生抱着一个新生婴儿，那是在利用我们的情感。

Examples from the Corpus

play on/upon • Senior Pat Graham is playing on a sore, possibly broken, foot.• The ties will be played on April 6 and April 20.• Leckie, too, liked to play on his ties to Symington.• But referee Neale Barry waved play on much to Ince's fury.• Collins saw the play on television and winced.• He also plays on three albums with Paul, two with Michael Brecker and one with Maria Schneider.• Mat a brute that man must be who said that the finest instrument to play upon was a sensitive impressionable woman!• None the less the play on words is there in the text, and is appropriate.

43 play something ↔ out phrasal verbphr v

a) if an event or situation is played out or plays itself out, it happens 发生；出现

It will be interesting to see how the election plays itself out.

观看选举如何进行会很有意思。

b) PERFORMif people play out their dreams, feelings etc, they express them by pretending that a particular situation is really happening 想入非非

The weekend gives you a chance to play out your fantasies.

周末让你有机会去想入非非。

Examples from the Corpus

play out• It is inconceivable that this same scenario could have played itself out as it did with a group of unrelated individuals.• Okay, shall we play this out do you think?• How does that different focus play itself out in daily parenting?• Every time he'd had a few drinks, they took starring roles in the fantasies that played themselves out in his head.• He has three other plays sketched out in his mind but not yet committed to paper.• This year a mere sprat of a northern lass won my heart playing hers out on a mighty and sonorous trombone.• Events must play themselves out to aesthetic, moral and logical conclusion.

44 play up phrasal verbphr v

a) play something ↔ upEMPHASIZE to emphasize something, sometimes making it seem more important than it really is 强调某事的重要性；夸大某事；大肆渲染某事

Play up your strongest arguments in the opening paragraph.

第一段中就要突出最强有力的论据。

b) play (somebody) upBEHAVE British EnglishBrE informal if children play up, they behave badly 〔孩子〕捣蛋；使（某人）恼火，给（某人）制造麻烦

Jordan’s been playing up in school.

乔丹在学校里老是惹麻烦。

I hope the kids don’t play you up.

我希望孩子们不会给你添麻烦。

c) play (somebody) upHURT/CAUSE PAIN British EnglishBrE informal to hurt you or cause problems for you 使〔某人〕感到痛苦；给〔某人〕造成麻烦

My knee’s been playing me up this week.

这星期我的膝盖一直不舒服。

The car’s playing up again.

车子又出问题了。

Examples from the Corpus

play up• The Prime Minister made great play of environmental issues, considering how little the government has done.• On TV last night the Democratic candidate was clearly playing up his caring image.• At the interview, remember to play up your experience of teaching in Japan.

45 play up to somebody phrasal verbphr v to behave in a very polite or kind way to someone because you want something from them 投〔某人〕所好，逢迎，讨好，巴结

Connie always plays up to her parents when she wants money.

康妮缺钱的时候总会去讨好父母。

Examples from the Corpus

play up to • You were quite good, playing up to the hicks.

46 play with somebody/something phrasal verbphr v

a) HOLDto keep touching something or moving it 摆弄，玩弄

Stop playing with the light switch!

别再乱动电灯开关了！

b) to try doing something in different ways to decide what works best 试验〔以找出解决问题的最佳方式〕

Play with the design onscreen, moving text and pictures until you get a pleasing arrangement.

试着在屏幕上进行设计，移动文字和图片，直到排列令人满意为止。

c) THINK ABOUTto consider an idea or possibility, but not always very seriously 〔不大认真地〕考虑〔某事〕 SYN toy with

After university, I played with the idea of teaching English in China.

大学毕业以后，我想过去中国教英语。

d) MORE/EXTRA money/time/space etc to play with money, time etc that is available to be used 可用的金钱/时间/空间等

The budget is very tight, so there isn’t much money to play with.

经费很紧，没有很多钱可用。

e) play with yourselfSYSEX/HAVE SEX WITH to touch your own sex organs for pleasure 手淫 SYN masturbate

f) play with words/languageSAY to use words in a clever or amusing way 玩文字游戏；用字遣词机智[幽默]

Examples from the Corpus

money/time/space etc to play with• He had time for his garden, time to talk to his Stratford friends, time to play with his granddaughter Elizabeth.• Lennie knows he hasn't any time to play with if Boro are to stay in the big time.• Then it's time to play with the topper dinghies!

play with yourself• Play and Friendship Dolphins of all ages are frequently seen playing with each other.• Back with the dancers, Humphreys peeled off all his clothes, started playing with himself and finally urinated on the dance-floor.

play with words/language• Children learn vocabulary from talking, reading, writing, and from playing with words.• Rhymesters, poets, writers, and jokers of all kinds - and their audiences - have always loved playing with words.• But why shouldn't feminists play with language for political ends?• She was given to playing with words in that way.• Recognising this, some feminists have used the alternative strategy of deliberately playing with words rather than attempting straightforwardly to redefine them.• Young children play with language, trying out sounds before they start experimenting with words.

Examples from the Corpus

play• Kendra's in her room playing.• Ask Alex if he wants to play.• In the Pittsburgh-Bills game, I have to like the way Buffalo is playing.• Age-sensitive political issues such as Social Security and Medicare will play a major role in the campaign, of course.• Your child can play all three goats and you the troll if there are just the two of you.• Karl loves basketball and plays almost every weekend.• Blake's composing and playing are, perhaps ironically, bristling with life.• Relaxing music is played at the beginning of the float and again at the end to indicate your time is up.• I have a recording of Kreisler playing Bach's E major concerto.• Do you know how to play backgammon?• The neck feels solid and moderately chubby, although not immediately reminiscent of anything I've played before.• Charles likes to play Celtic music on his flute.• I've only played chess a few times.• Did you ever play doctors and nurses when you were small?• It's been a long time since I played hockey.• Come on - let's go inside and play house!• I'm playing in a tennis match this Sunday.• Do you play in an orchestra?• Every Sunday we play Monopoly or some other board game.• I used to play tennis all the time.• I played the ace of clubs and won the game.• Matt plays the drums.• She tried to teach him how to play the piano, but he had no great talent for it.• I didn't know you could play the violin.• "They played well against us, " Cooper said, "I have to give them credit."• Jimmy was playing with a little boat in the bathtub.• Ian was upstairs playing with his new train set.

play catch/house/tag/school etc• Got too possessive, kept wanting to play house.• Some legislators set up housekeeping when the biennial gatherings began and played house for the six-month sessions.• Elegantly restored ballroom that plays house, garage and disco to a smartly dressed, trendy crowd-no jeans or trainers.• I read to him, played catch in the alley and taught him how to ride his new bike.• Universal Pictures wanted Chase to play house philanderer Otter, and the role was offered to him.• This was not playing catch; this was important.• The voice was not what I'd have expected from a girl who'd been playing house with a mug like Mahoney.• From my second-floor vantage point I could see my classmates as they tumbled out into the quad playing catch with my shoes.

play for• Iverson plays for the Philadelphia 76ers.

play a record/CD/tape etc• I was intensely interested in journalism, and all the things around it, whether it was performing or actually playing records.• I was talking to her at a women's group meeting - we were playing records.• They also perform surgery, detect radiation and play records.• We help each other with homework ... then play records and that.• The operator plays a recording from one recent evening.• This gave us an overall playing record of four wins out of six matches played, with one defeat and one match abandoned.• No baby, just a tape recorder playing a tape of my little sister crying when she was a baby.• Some people think you just play records, when in fact you're putting together a whole programme.

play a role/part/character etc• The goals are to make sure everyone understands, everyone plays a part, and everyone shares in the credit.• Throughout the play characters are giving advice to one another as to how they should behave.• The New Man rejects traditional roles of parenthood and likes to play a part in decision-making.• Interestingly the commercial value of the site did not play a part in the calculation.• Do methods of communication play a part in the creation of this desirable environment?• The fourth dimension also played a part in uniting a number of abstract painters and sculptors in the inter-war period.• Third, the student plays a role of dissent.• So, although new designs and reorganizations play a role, they are never enough to shape a complete vision of how.

playing dead• The snake fools predators by playing dead.• Indeed, it must be fully aware of what is happening to it when it is playing dead.• Liz thought of an insect playing dead.• I just laid there playing dead, and he was pawing the ground, trying to get me to get up.

play it carefully/cool etc• Have to find out for himself, no other way, poke around, listen, ask, play it carefully.• She was trying to play it cool.• The band had wanted a major deal for at least two years previously, but were determined to play it cool.• Rather than rushing into print in Nature, however, Cantor played it cool and cautious.• Tod's playing it cool, of course, as always.• Plus, playing it cool ... the dark secrets of an orchid grower And, who said Robins could sing?

词汇	play
释义	play Word family noun play interplay replay player playfulness playletplay-actingplaybackplaybillplaybookplayboyPlaybusplay-by-playplay dateplayfellowplaygroundplaygroupplayhouseplaying cardplaying fieldplayleaderplaylistplaymakerplaymateplaypenplayroomplayschoolplayslipplaysuitplaythingplaytimeplaywrightadjective playful playable playsomeplayed-outverb play outplay replay adverb playfully Related topics: Other games, Theatre, Music play1 /pleɪ/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 1 children 儿童 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]DGO when children play, they do things that they enjoy, often with other people or with toys 玩，玩耍 Kids were playing and chasing each other. 孩子们在互相追逐嬉闹。 play catch/house/tag/school etc Outside, the children were playing cowboys and Indians. 孩子们在外面玩牛仔和印第安人的游戏。 play with Did you like to play with dolls when you were little? 你小时候喜不喜欢玩洋娃娃？ Parents need to spend time just playing with their children. 父母应该花时间和自己的孩子一起玩耍。 2 sports/games 运动/比赛 a) [intransitiveI, transitiveT]PLAY A GAME OR SPORT to take part or compete in a game or sport 参赛，参加〔比赛或运动〕 Karen began playing basketball when she was six. 卡伦六岁时开始打篮球。 If you feel any pain, you shouldn’t play. 如果你觉得疼，就不该参赛。 Men were sitting in the park, playing cards. 男人们坐在公园里打牌。 play against Bristol will play against Coventry next week. 下周布里斯托尔队将迎战考文垂队。 She’s playing Helen Evans in the semi-final (=playing against her). 半决赛中她将迎战海伦·埃文斯。 play for Moxon played for England in ten test matches. 莫克森代表英格兰队参加过十场国际板球对抗赛决赛阶段比赛。 b) [transitiveT] to use a particular piece, card, person etc in a game or sport 〔比赛中〕走〔子〕；出〔牌〕；派〔某人〕出场 Harrison played a ten of spades. 哈里森出了一张黑桃十。 The Regents played Eddie at center (=used him as a player in that position) in the game against Arizona. 在和亚利桑那州立大学队的比赛中，理真大学队派埃迪上场担任中锋。 c) [intransitiveI, transitiveT] to take a particular position on a team 〔在某运动队中〕担当，充任 Garvey played first base for the Dodgers. 加维在道奇队中打一垒。 d) [transitiveT] to hit a ball in a particular way or to a particular place in a game or sport 〔在比赛或运动中〕击〔球〕，打〔球〕 She played the ball low, just over the net. 她把球打得很低，刚刚过网。 3 music 音乐 [intransitiveI, transitiveT] PERFORMto perform a piece of music on a musical instrument 演奏，弹奏 He’s learning to play the piano. 他在学习弹钢琴。 She played a Bach prelude. 她演奏了一首巴赫的前奏曲。 Haden has played with many jazz greats. 黑登和许多著名的爵士乐手合作过。 A small orchestra was playing. 一支小型管弦乐队在演奏。 4 radio/cd etc 广播/激光唱片等 [intransitiveI, transitiveT] if a radio, CD etc plays, or if you play it, it produces sound, especially music 播放 The bedside radio played softly. 床边的收音机播放着轻柔的乐曲。 play a record/CD/tape etc DJs playing the latest house and techno tracks 播放着最新豪斯音乐和泰克诺音乐的音乐节目主持人们 5 theatre/film 剧院/电影 a) [transitiveT]APT to perform the actions and say the words of a particular character in a theatre performance, film etc 扮演〔角色〕 Streep plays a shy, nervous woman. 斯特里普扮演一个腼腆、神经质的女人。 play a role/part/character etc Playing a character so different from herself was a challenge. 扮演一个和她本人如此不同的角色是个挑战。 b) [intransitiveI]APTPERFORM if a play or film is playing at a particular theatre, it is being performed or shown there 〔戏剧〕上演；〔电影〕上映 ‘Macbeth’ is playing at the Theatre Royal in York. 《麦克白》正在约克的皇家剧院上演。 c) [transitiveT]APTPERFORM if actors play a theatre, they perform there in a play 〔演员〕在〔剧院〕演出 6 play a part/role EFFECT/INFLUENCEto have an effect or influence on something 〔在某事中〕起作用；〔在某事中〕有影响 play a part/role in A good diet and fitness play a large part in helping people live longer. 合理的饮食和良好的健康状况在对人们寿命的延长起着重要作用。 Examples from the Corpus play a part/role• Although the budget committees guide Congress's actions on spending, every committee plays a role.• The researchers said more investigation was needed into whether vaccinations or pesticides played a part.• But big-city gangsters also play a part.• Our goal is to make sure everyone plays a part and shares in the credit.• Sure, the Pentium chip plays a part, but other components provide the big difference.• Therefore, both over-confidence and under-confidence may play a part in creating an environment in which accidents happen more readily.• The New Man rejects traditional roles of parenthood and likes to play a part in decision-making.• Schneider played a key role in getting the organization started.• By speaking out about envy between women, comedy can play a part in helping us to heal it in ourselves.• He was six now and understood that I had played a role in his parents separation.• Together with the police everyone can play a part in improving the security of their neighborhood.• Luck has to play a part in it.• Men now play a larger part in looking after their children.• Hart clearly played a role in the decision to change admission standards.• The Secretary of State played a leading role in the government's successful foreign policy.• The most effective learning occurs when the child is allowed to play a more active role in the learning process. 7 play ball a) to throw, kick, hit, or catch a ball as a game or activity 玩球类游戏 Jim and Karl were playing ball in the backyard. 吉姆和卡尔在后院玩球。 b) to do what someone wants you to do 听命 So far, the company has refused to play ball, preferring to remain independent. 这家公司至今不愿当傀儡，更希望保持独立。 Examples from the Corpus play ball• It was a timeless scene: a brick house, a mown meadow, a man and his boy playing ball.• It seemed clear to us that we would always have the time to play ball and get better as we went along.• When they break a window playing ball or lose something that belongs to a friend, they should make amends.• She played ball, she had difficulty with spelling, and she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up.• He has no one to play ball with and tosses his ball against the wall in a most despondent fashion.• The editor would have doubled it, if you'd played ball with me.• There is a simple, inexpensive solution for those who refuse to play ball with the system. 8 pretend 假装 [linking verb]BEHAVE to behave as if you are a particular kind of person or have a particular feeling or quality, even though it is not true 假装，装扮 the accusation that scientists are playing God 对科学家扮演上帝的指责 Some snakes fool predators by playing dead. 有些蛇会以装死来蒙骗猎食者。 ‘What do you mean?’ ‘Don’t play dumb (=pretend you do not know something).' “你什么意思？”“别装糊涂了。” Don’t play the innocent (=pretend you do not know about something) with me – we both know what happened. 别跟我装无辜，你我都知道出了什么事。 play the idiot/the teacher etc Susan felt she had to play the good wife. 苏珊觉得自己必须扮成好妻子。 He played the fool (=behaved in a silly way) at school instead of working. 他在学校瞎混而不用功学习。 9 behave 表现 [transitiveT always + adverbadv/prepositionprep]BEHAVE to behave in a particular way in a situation, in order to achieve the result or effect that you want 〔以某种方式〕表现，行事 How do you want to play this meeting? 你想怎么开这次会议？ Play it safe (=avoid risks) and make sure the eggs are thoroughly cooked. 保险一点，一定要把这些蛋煮透。 play it carefully/cool etc If you like him, play it cool, or you might scare him off. 你要是喜欢他，就别露声色，否则可能会把他吓跑。 10 play games HIDE/NOT SHOWto hide your real feelings or wishes in order to achieve something in a clever or secret way – used to show disapproval 耍花招，耍手段〔含贬义〕 Stop playing games, Luke, and tell me what you want. 别耍花招了，卢克，告诉我你想要什么。 Examples from the Corpus play games• Don't waste time by playing games.• The Dauphin was showing Henry that he was just a stupid kid who should still be playing games.• I don't play games at all!• But Symington and the Legislature are simply playing games here.• Just going out to resupply some patrols on a secure road was so bland that we played games to make it interesting.• As a child she preferred playing games with boys to dressing up dolls.• If they want to play games with their parachutes, then that is their affair.• They can only create challenges for themselves, play games within the games. 11 play something by ear a) to decide what to do according to the way a situation develops, without making plans before that time 见机行事，随机应变 We’ll see what the weather’s like and play it by ear. 我们将根据天气情况随机应变。 b) if someone can play a musical instrument by ear, they can play a tune without looking at written music 不看乐谱演奏 Examples from the Corpus play something by ear• As he has no political party that can provide him with practical support, he is forced to play it by ear.• At 2, he played the piano by ear.• But the government is having to play it by ear.• He heard jazz records at home when very young and played piano by ear.• Well, she would play it by ear.• So each played it by ear, with resulting policy shifts that often appeared to be not only sudden but incomprehensible. 12. play a joke/trick/prank on somebody JOKEto do something to someone as a joke or trick 跟某人开玩笑，捉弄某人 Examples from the Corpus play a joke/trick/prank on somebody• He had always played tricks on her.• Her brain had to be playing tricks on her.• Jack felt edgy but convinced himself that his nerves were playing tricks on him.• Somewhat perturbed, Ted flung the door open still believing that the platelayers were playing tricks on him.• In one of them, a man named Wakefield decides to play a joke on his wife.• Yes, fate was playing tricks on me.• They delight in playing tricks on mortals, though they will cease to give trouble if politely requested to do so.• It allowed me to detect instances when time played tricks on the memory of some of the respondents. 13 play the game a) to do things in the way you are expected to do them or in a way that is usual in a particular situation 遵守规则，按规矩行事 If you want a promotion, you’ve got to play the game. 如果你想得到晋升，就要规规矩矩的。 b) FAIR British EnglishBrE to behave in a fair and honest way 办事公道，光明正大 Examples from the Corpus play the game• Diillon won't get promoted if he's not willing to play the game.• Last year three hundred and sixty pupils were injured from three thousand schools who regularly play the game.• Most manufacturers have played the game.• Until that point we were really just playing the game.• We assume to start with that the weighted patterns provide a rough guide to playing the game.• He thought he was playing the game again.• Just like playing the game itself, it seems.• I know how to play the game myself.• While online, the user could play the game, which would be stored in short-term memory. 14 play the race/nationalist/environmentalist etc card to use a particular subject in politics in order to gain an advantage 打种族/民族主义/环保主义等的牌〔指使用某个政治话题来赢得优势〕 a leader who is skilfully playing the nationalist card to keep power 老练地打出民族主义牌以保持权力的一名领导人 Examples from the Corpus play the race/nationalist/environmentalist etc card• Mugabe now plays the race card.• It will give the various groups and Tory Members who seek to play the race card the opportunity to do so. 15 play your cards right SUCCEED IN DOING somethingto say or do things in a situation in such a way that you gain as much as possible from it 做事精明，处理得当 Who knows? If you play your cards right, maybe he’ll marry you. 谁知道呢？如果你精明些，说不定他会娶你呢。 Examples from the Corpus play your cards right• Oh, no - she knew how to play her cards right.• The domino effect can work for us as well as against us if we play our cards right.• This could all turn out for the best if he played his cards right. 16. play your cards close to your chest to keep secret what you are doing in a situation 对自己的行为秘而不宣 Examples from the Corpus play your cards close to your chest• Roslin, known for playing his cards close to his vest, declined to comment. 17 play into somebody’s hands to do what someone you are competing with wants you to do, without realizing it 〔因做对手所希望的事〕正中对手下怀 If we respond with violence, we’ll be playing into their hands, giving them an excuse for a fight. 如果我们以暴力回应，就正中他们下怀，给了他们挑起争斗的借口。 Examples from the Corpus play into somebody’s hands• And what good you, you silly fool, playing into my hands like this?• Whatever he did would play into the hands of Isambard, whose traps were always dual, and could not be evaded.• We should be careful not to play into the hands of murderers.• Such action, I believed - and still believe - would have played into the hands of my enemies.• This, the futures industry frets, would play into the hands of Rep.• It plays into the hands of the opposition.• It would be playing into his hands to react to his deliberate teasing. 18 play for time DELAYto try to delay something so that you have more time to prepare for it or prevent it from happening 为争取时间而拖延 The rebels may be playing for time while they try to get more weapons. 叛乱分子可能在拖延时间，想搞到更多的武器。 Examples from the Corpus play for time• The governments, nervous, are playing for time.• The rebel's current ceasefire doesn't amount to much more than playing for time.• The U.S. strategy over the past weeks has been to play for time.• Henry's only plan at this moment was to play for time.• The confused evidence suggests they are acting on their own initiative, not on directives from East Berlin to play for time.• The government is playing for time.• Stop playing for time and give us an answer.• He decides, literally, to play for time and makes a debut at Nero's banquet that evening.• Truman played for time by appointing a brains trust of three to advise him.• Mr Kasyanov seems now to be playing for time, hoping to get through January without ferocious clashes with creditors.• Edmond Herv is a close friend and he tells me that sometimes you have to play for time to solve a problem. 19 play tricks (on you) if your mind, memory, sight etc plays tricks on you, you feel confused and not sure about what is happening 〔头脑、记忆、视力等〕使（某人）产生错觉 It happened a long time ago, and my memory might be playing tricks on me. 那是很久以前的事了，我记不清了。 Examples from the Corpus play tricks (on you)• He had always played tricks on her.• Her brain had to be playing tricks on her.• Jack felt edgy but convinced himself that his nerves were playing tricks on him.• Somewhat perturbed, Ted flung the door open still believing that the platelayers were playing tricks on him.• Yes, fate was playing tricks on me.• They delight in playing tricks on mortals, though they will cease to give trouble if politely requested to do so.• It allowed me to detect instances when time played tricks on the memory of some of the respondents.• He knew, too, that his head had been aching and that his mind was capable of playing tricks upon him. 20. play the market BFSRISKto risk money on the stock market as a way of trying to earn more money 〔在证券市场〕买卖证券 Examples from the Corpus play the market• For example: Do Social Security recipients want government playing the market?• The reverse, Adibi said, is true for those whose income is too low to play the market.• And this is why many growers are choosing to let their grain merchants play the markets for them.• The first swap was in December 1983 but the council had not begun to play the market in earnest until late 1987. 21 play the system ADVANTAGEto use the rules of a system in a clever way, to gain advantage for yourself 钻制度的空子〔使自己得益〕 Accountants know how to play the tax system. 会计师知道如何钻税收制度的空子。 Examples from the Corpus play the system• Accountants know how to play the tax system. 22. play second fiddle (to somebody) (also play second banana informal)IMPORTANT to be in a lower position or rank than someone else （给某人）当第二把手[副手]，居次要地位 Examples from the Corpus play second fiddle (to somebody)• Mr Pozsgay was simply fed up with playing second fiddle, a characteristic that was to re-emerge later.• Even the lyrics tend to play second fiddle and are generally added after the main melody has been composed.• He was never more than a B-movie actor, playing second fiddle to actors like Errol Flynn.• He had been a reluctant ally and may well have resented playing second fiddle to his younger brother.• The locals were not satisfied playing second fiddle to Los Angeles.• But putts and drives will play second fiddle to schmoozing when top sports celebrities take center stage at the golf club.• Throughout her married life she had to play second fiddle to the interests of her husband.• She might also have simply got tired of playing second fiddle to the Prince's pastimes.• So often he has played second fiddle to Wright and notched only nine goals last season to his partner's 30. 23. play hard to get PRETENDATTRACTto pretend that you are not sexually interested in someone so that they will become more interested in you 〔对异性〕欲擒故纵〔故意装出对某人不感兴趣的样子以吸引对方〕 Examples from the Corpus play hard to get• You should call her again - I think she's just playing hard to get.• And they may not just be playing hard to get.• I am not going to suggest that you play hard to get.• If it was Viola, she was obviously playing hard to get.• It had nothing to do with teasing or playing hard to get. 24. smile 笑容 [intransitiveI always + adverbadv/prepositionprep] writtenSMILE if a smile plays about someone’s lips, they smile slightly 〔微笑〕浮现 25. play hooky American EnglishAmE, play truant British EnglishSE to stay away from school without permission 逃学，旷课 Examples from the Corpus play hooky• Maricela Roman will never forget the day her own 4-year-old ratted on her when she tried to play hooky.• Abraham and MacGregor begin tasting that delicious sense of playing hooky from life, just like two big, naughty kids.• A boy playing hooky in Texas is not a criminal who is put away for study. 26 play with fire DANGEROUSto do something that could have a very dangerous or harmful result 做危险的事，玩火 Dating the boss’s daughter is playing with fire. 和老板的女儿约会是在玩火。 Examples from the Corpus play with fire• Dating the boss's daughter is playing with fire.• The mask made him seem menacing, and she suddenly had the sensation that with Lucenzo she was playing with fire.• Failure to stick to the safety rules is simply playing with fire.• These men are criminals. If you get involved with them, you'll be playing with fire.• Charity stunt team warned ... you're playing with fire.• Roy Alon who appeared in many of the James Bond films said the team were playing with fire.• Sir Hugo advises Deronda not to play with fire.• So, your employer is playing with fire.• With Emma he had played with fire and narrowly escaped burning.• She was playing with fire, in Lydia's opinion.• Manchester United continue to play with fire, losing 2-1 against Anderlecht. 27 play to your strengths to do what you are able to do well, rather than trying to do other things 发挥自己的长处，拿出自己的优势 It is up to us to play to our strengths and try to control the game. 要靠我们发挥自己的优势，尽力控制比赛。 28 light 光线 [intransitiveI always + adverbadv/prepositionprep] writtenSHINE if light plays on something, it shines on it and moves on it 〔在…上〕闪烁，掠过 the sunlight playing on the water 在水面闪烁的阳光 29. water 水 [intransitiveI] written if a fountain plays, water comes from it 〔喷泉〕喷水 30. play a hose/light on something MOVE something OR somebodyto point a hose or light towards something so that water or light goes onto it 把软管/光线对准某处 31. play the field SEX/HAVE SEX WITHto have sexual relationships with a lot of different people 乱搞男女关系，滥交 Examples from the Corpus play the field• Better chance to play the field.• Perhaps because he plays the field.• He gave up playing the field and married a year ago, to a sinewy woman called Cheryl Berkoff.• So she had played the field, enjoying male company without getting in too deep or too seriously. 32 play fast and loose with something to not be careful about what you do, especially by not obeying the law or a rule 不负责任地利用某物〔尤指不遵守法律或规定〕 They played fast and loose with investors’ money. 他们滥用了投资者的资金。 Examples from the Corpus play fast and loose with something• They probably see it as a place where government plays fast and loose with tax dollars.• And there is his willingness to play fast and loose with the facts.• Besides, it is playing fast and loose with the statistics to take 1981 as the baseline for the Government's claims.• To say that the Wattersons had played fast and loose with their investors' capital was an understatement.• In what follows, I shall play fast and loose with these words and the subtle distinctions between them. 33. play happy families British EnglishBrE to spend time with your family, doing normal things, especially so that your family appears to be happy when it is not 维持幸福家庭的假象 PHRASAL VERBS 34 play around (also play about British English) phrasal verbphr v a) SEX/HAVE SEX WITHto have a sexual relationship with someone who is not your usual partner 与〔某人〕鬼混 with Wasn’t she playing around with another man? 她当时不是在和另一个男人鬼混吗？ It was years before I realized he’d been playing around. 多年以后我才察觉到他一直在拈花惹草。 b) to try doing something in different ways, to see what would be best, especially when this is fun 摆弄，把玩〔尤指好玩〕 with Play around with the ingredients if you like. 如果你喜欢，可以随意搭配各种原料。 c) to behave in a silly way or waste time, when you should be doing something more serious 胡闹 SYN fool around When the teacher wasn’t looking, we used to play about a lot. 老师不看着我们时，我们经常会瞎胡闹。 Examples from the Corpus play with• Why were men able to play around with any sort of drab?• He played around with both boys and girls and he was capable of uncontrolled violence.• But generally they enjoy themselves and they play around with inventions and machines like nobody's business.• But Uncle liked to play around with it.• It is bad to play around with other people's wives and bad also to spy on President Amin.• She encourages customers to play around with samples so they feel they are helping to design their own rooms.• This can be corrected either in Photoshop or by simply playing around with the white balance.• But it wasn't really such a leap from paintings of riders to pictures of top-hatted toffs playing around with tousled tarts. play with• Why were men able to play around with any sort of drab?• He played around with both boys and girls and he was capable of uncontrolled violence.• But generally they enjoy themselves and they play around with inventions and machines like nobody's business.• But Uncle liked to play around with it.• It is bad to play around with other people's wives and bad also to spy on President Amin.• She encourages customers to play around with samples so they feel they are helping to design their own rooms.• This can be corrected either in Photoshop or by simply playing around with the white balance.• But it wasn't really such a leap from paintings of riders to pictures of top-hatted toffs playing around with tousled tarts. 35 play around with something (also play about with something British English) phrasal verbphr v to keep moving or making changes to something in your hands 〔在手中〕摆弄，把玩 SYN fiddle with Will you stop playing around with the remote control! 你能不能别再摆弄遥控器了！ 36 play along phrasal verbphr v a) PRETENDto pretend to agree to do what someone wants, in order to avoid annoying them or to get an advantage 假装顺从，暂且附和 She felt she had to play along or risk losing her job. 她觉得自己必须假装顺从，否则就有失业的危险。 b) play somebody along British EnglishBrELIE/TELL A LIE to tell someone something that is not true because you need their help in some way 〔因为需要某人的帮助而〕对某人撒谎，欺骗某人 37 play at something phrasal verbphr v a) What is somebody playing at?DO British EnglishBrE spoken used when you do not understand what someone is doing or why they are doing it, and you are surprised or annoyed 某人在搞什么鬼？ What do you think you’re playing at? 你到底在搞什么名堂？ b) DO BADLYif you play at doing something, you do not do it properly or seriously 不认真地干，对…敷衍了事 play at doing something He’s still playing at being an artist. 他对于当艺术家仍然三心二意。 c) PRETEND British EnglishBrE if children play at doctors, soldiers etc, they pretend to be doctors, soldiers etc 〔小孩〕假扮…玩 play at being something a 14-year-old playing at being a grown woman 假扮成年女性的14岁少女 Examples from the Corpus play at • But most nights, he gets only a few minutes, or may not play at all.• Deciding whether home-school students could choose to play at any public school or only the one in their attendance district.• By the time they finally play at home, everyone else will have long since had their home openers.• Darlington ladies held Boston well away from home and on the two rinks who played at the Morrison Centre.• Craig, who started in John Osborne plays at the Royal Court, reminds us what an excellent actor she is.• He had to learn his words, of course - perhaps for six different plays at the same time.• The limp tunes appear to be played at the wrong speed, stretching them out until they become transparent and meaningless.• It also gave Catholic a chance for its first bus ride to a game when it plays at Widener. play at doing something• But most nights, he gets only a few minutes, or may not play at all.• By the time they finally play at home, everyone else will have long since had their home openers.• Craig, who started in John Osborne plays at the Royal Court, reminds us what an excellent actor she is.• Darlington ladies held Boston well away from home and on the two rinks who played at the Morrison Centre.• Deciding whether home-school students could choose to play at any public school or only the one in their attendance district.• He had to learn his words, of course - perhaps for six different plays at the same time.• It also gave Catholic a chance for its first bus ride to a game when it plays at Widener.• The limp tunes appear to be played at the wrong speed, stretching them out until they become transparent and meaningless. play at being something• His attitude said he was letting her play at being a psychiatrist to please his godfather.• I liked to play at being bright.• What if I said they were just playing at being drop-outs?• Massless electron neutrinos playing at being heavy tau neutrinos might help solve either or both.• She made him feel like an insect playing at being human.• They can play at being still waters that run deep.• He has always played at being the happiest guy on earth, because he learned that the first trade is the hardest. 38 play something ↔ back phrasal verbphr v TCRto play something that has been recorded on a machine so that you can listen to it or watch it 回放〔已录制的录音带、录像带等〕 He played back his answering machine messages. 他回放了电话答录机中的留言。 Examples from the Corpus play back• A surprise onside kick followed, then three drives of at least six plays.• However, as a compensation, I tend to draw comic devils playing fiddles.• Their two-try victory was built on a solid performance by the forwards and inventive play from the backs.• But the play was called back after Kofi Nartey was called for holding on the opposite side of the field.• There would be months in which they could play it back at leisure.• Can your Centre Forward put one in against Fatty Phil, or will he be playing Left Back in the changing rooms?• However, Turner was involved in another play that brought back some bad memories for Raiders fans.• The next day, when he had sobered up, she insisted on playing it back to him. 39 play something ↔ down phrasal verbphr v UNIMPORTANTto try to make something seem less important or less likely than it really is 使…看起来不那么重要，贬低，对…轻描淡写 Management has been playing down the possibility of job losses. 管理层一直淡化职位减少的可能性。 play down the importance/seriousness/significance of something The White House spokeswoman sought to play down the significance of the event. 白宫女发言人试图淡化该事件的重要性。 Examples from the Corpus play down• He's always playing himself down.• Miss Verjec blew her whistle and walked angrily towards those who had stopped playing and fallen down.• Odom, 26, did not play a down last season and retired last month.• Peter: Usually play football down the street, play footy.• The real surprise is that they played so badly down the stretch in both games and still managed to win.• I played well down the stretch.• The play settled down with its new cast.• Not the whiff of scandal; we played that down, wrongly, as it turned out. play down the importance/seriousness/significance of something• As a corollary, AI-workers have tended to play down the importance of neurophysiological knowledge about the brain.• At a New York conference this week Mr Murdoch tried to play down the significance of the deal.• Perhaps it was good that Hooper did not take Charles's kindness, but instead played down the significance of the incident.• The first reaction from the Tour organisers was to play down the significance of Voet's arrest. 40 play off phrasal verbphr v a) British EnglishBrE if people or teams play off, they play the last game in a sports competition, in order to decide who is the winner 决胜负 The top two teams will play off at Twickenham for the county title. 成绩最好的两支球队将在维克汉姆体育场为争夺郡冠军一决雌雄。 b) play off somebody/something American EnglishAmE to deliberately use a fact, action, idea etc in order to make what you are doing better or to get an advantage 故意压制某人/某物 The two musicians played off each other in a piece of inspired improvisation. 两位乐师在表演一首精彩的即兴曲时争强斗胜。 41 play somebody off against somebody phrasal verbphr v ARGUEto encourage one person or group to compete or argue with another, in order to get some advantage for yourself 〔为渔利而〕挑拨离间，使…相斗[对立，争吵] The house seller may try to play one buyer off against another, to raise the price. 房子的卖家可能会在两位买主之间挑拨，目的是为了抬高房价。 Examples from the Corpus play off against • Airlines usually negotiate privately with manufacturers, playing one off against another, of course.• The highly paid, like the corporations that employ them, are mobile, and can play one state off against another.• When mining companies and other investors rushed to Kinshasa to seek deals, he tried to play them off against each other.• The child may gravitate to the parent that is easier to manipulate or try to play one parent off against the other.• You need to present a united front and avoid taking sides or playing one child off against the other. 42 play on/upon something phrasal verbphr v USE somethingto use a feeling, fact, or idea in order to get what you want, often in an unfair way 利用〔某一感情、事实或观点〕 The ad plays on our emotions, showing a doctor holding a newborn baby. 广告中一名医生抱着一个新生婴儿，那是在利用我们的情感。 Examples from the Corpus play on/upon • Senior Pat Graham is playing on a sore, possibly broken, foot.• The ties will be played on April 6 and April 20.• Leckie, too, liked to play on his ties to Symington.• But referee Neale Barry waved play on much to Ince's fury.• Collins saw the play on television and winced.• He also plays on three albums with Paul, two with Michael Brecker and one with Maria Schneider.• Mat a brute that man must be who said that the finest instrument to play upon was a sensitive impressionable woman!• None the less the play on words is there in the text, and is appropriate. 43 play something ↔ out phrasal verbphr v a) if an event or situation is played out or plays itself out, it happens 发生；出现 It will be interesting to see how the election plays itself out. 观看选举如何进行会很有意思。 b) PERFORMif people play out their dreams, feelings etc, they express them by pretending that a particular situation is really happening 想入非非 The weekend gives you a chance to play out your fantasies. 周末让你有机会去想入非非。 Examples from the Corpus play out• It is inconceivable that this same scenario could have played itself out as it did with a group of unrelated individuals.• Okay, shall we play this out do you think?• How does that different focus play itself out in daily parenting?• Every time he'd had a few drinks, they took starring roles in the fantasies that played themselves out in his head.• He has three other plays sketched out in his mind but not yet committed to paper.• This year a mere sprat of a northern lass won my heart playing hers out on a mighty and sonorous trombone.• Events must play themselves out to aesthetic, moral and logical conclusion. 44 play up phrasal verbphr v a) play something ↔ upEMPHASIZE to emphasize something, sometimes making it seem more important than it really is 强调某事的重要性；夸大某事；大肆渲染某事 Play up your strongest arguments in the opening paragraph. 第一段中就要突出最强有力的论据。 b) play (somebody) upBEHAVE British EnglishBrE informal if children play up, they behave badly 〔孩子〕捣蛋；使（某人）恼火，给（某人）制造麻烦 Jordan’s been playing up in school. 乔丹在学校里老是惹麻烦。 I hope the kids don’t play you up. 我希望孩子们不会给你添麻烦。 c) play (somebody) upHURT/CAUSE PAIN British EnglishBrE informal to hurt you or cause problems for you 使〔某人〕感到痛苦；给〔某人〕造成麻烦 My knee’s been playing me up this week. 这星期我的膝盖一直不舒服。 The car’s playing up again. 车子又出问题了。 Examples from the Corpus play up• The Prime Minister made great play of environmental issues, considering how little the government has done.• On TV last night the Democratic candidate was clearly playing up his caring image.• At the interview, remember to play up your experience of teaching in Japan. 45 play up to somebody phrasal verbphr v to behave in a very polite or kind way to someone because you want something from them 投〔某人〕所好，逢迎，讨好，巴结 Connie always plays up to her parents when she wants money. 康妮缺钱的时候总会去讨好父母。 Examples from the Corpus play up to • You were quite good, playing up to the hicks. 46 play with somebody/something phrasal verbphr v a) HOLDto keep touching something or moving it 摆弄，玩弄 Stop playing with the light switch! 别再乱动电灯开关了！ b) to try doing something in different ways to decide what works best 试验〔以找出解决问题的最佳方式〕 Play with the design onscreen, moving text and pictures until you get a pleasing arrangement. 试着在屏幕上进行设计，移动文字和图片，直到排列令人满意为止。 c) THINK ABOUTto consider an idea or possibility, but not always very seriously 〔不大认真地〕考虑〔某事〕 SYN toy with After university, I played with the idea of teaching English in China. 大学毕业以后，我想过去中国教英语。 d) MORE/EXTRA money/time/space etc to play with money, time etc that is available to be used 可用的金钱/时间/空间等 The budget is very tight, so there isn’t much money to play with. 经费很紧，没有很多钱可用。 e) play with yourselfSYSEX/HAVE SEX WITH to touch your own sex organs for pleasure 手淫 SYN masturbate f) play with words/languageSAY to use words in a clever or amusing way 玩文字游戏；用字遣词机智[幽默] Examples from the Corpus money/time/space etc to play with• He had time for his garden, time to talk to his Stratford friends, time to play with his granddaughter Elizabeth.• Lennie knows he hasn't any time to play with if Boro are to stay in the big time.• Then it's time to play with the topper dinghies! play with yourself• Play and Friendship Dolphins of all ages are frequently seen playing with each other.• Back with the dancers, Humphreys peeled off all his clothes, started playing with himself and finally urinated on the dance-floor. play with words/language• Children learn vocabulary from talking, reading, writing, and from playing with words.• Rhymesters, poets, writers, and jokers of all kinds - and their audiences - have always loved playing with words.• But why shouldn't feminists play with language for political ends?• She was given to playing with words in that way.• Recognising this, some feminists have used the alternative strategy of deliberately playing with words rather than attempting straightforwardly to redefine them.• Young children play with language, trying out sounds before they start experimenting with words. Examples from the Corpus play• Kendra's in her room playing.• Ask Alex if he wants to play.• In the Pittsburgh-Bills game, I have to like the way Buffalo is playing.• Age-sensitive political issues such as Social Security and Medicare will play a major role in the campaign, of course.• Your child can play all three goats and you the troll if there are just the two of you.• Karl loves basketball and plays almost every weekend.• Blake's composing and playing are, perhaps ironically, bristling with life.• Relaxing music is played at the beginning of the float and again at the end to indicate your time is up.• I have a recording of Kreisler playing Bach's E major concerto.• Do you know how to play backgammon?• The neck feels solid and moderately chubby, although not immediately reminiscent of anything I've played before.• Charles likes to play Celtic music on his flute.• I've only played chess a few times.• Did you ever play doctors and nurses when you were small?• It's been a long time since I played hockey.• Come on - let's go inside and play house!• I'm playing in a tennis match this Sunday.• Do you play in an orchestra?• Every Sunday we play Monopoly or some other board game.• I used to play tennis all the time.• I played the ace of clubs and won the game.• Matt plays the drums.• She tried to teach him how to play the piano, but he had no great talent for it.• I didn't know you could play the violin.• "They played well against us, " Cooper said, "I have to give them credit."• Jimmy was playing with a little boat in the bathtub.• Ian was upstairs playing with his new train set. play catch/house/tag/school etc• Got too possessive, kept wanting to play house.• Some legislators set up housekeeping when the biennial gatherings began and played house for the six-month sessions.• Elegantly restored ballroom that plays house, garage and disco to a smartly dressed, trendy crowd-no jeans or trainers.• I read to him, played catch in the alley and taught him how to ride his new bike.• Universal Pictures wanted Chase to play house philanderer Otter, and the role was offered to him.• This was not playing catch; this was important.• The voice was not what I'd have expected from a girl who'd been playing house with a mug like Mahoney.• From my second-floor vantage point I could see my classmates as they tumbled out into the quad playing catch with my shoes. play for• Iverson plays for the Philadelphia 76ers. play a record/CD/tape etc• I was intensely interested in journalism, and all the things around it, whether it was performing or actually playing records.• I was talking to her at a women's group meeting - we were playing records.• They also perform surgery, detect radiation and play records.• We help each other with homework ... then play records and that.• The operator plays a recording from one recent evening.• This gave us an overall playing record of four wins out of six matches played, with one defeat and one match abandoned.• No baby, just a tape recorder playing a tape of my little sister crying when she was a baby.• Some people think you just play records, when in fact you're putting together a whole programme. play a role/part/character etc• The goals are to make sure everyone understands, everyone plays a part, and everyone shares in the credit.• Throughout the play characters are giving advice to one another as to how they should behave.• The New Man rejects traditional roles of parenthood and likes to play a part in decision-making.• Interestingly the commercial value of the site did not play a part in the calculation.• Do methods of communication play a part in the creation of this desirable environment?• The fourth dimension also played a part in uniting a number of abstract painters and sculptors in the inter-war period.• Third, the student plays a role of dissent.• So, although new designs and reorganizations play a role, they are never enough to shape a complete vision of how. playing dead• The snake fools predators by playing dead.• Indeed, it must be fully aware of what is happening to it when it is playing dead.• Liz thought of an insect playing dead.• I just laid there playing dead, and he was pawing the ground, trying to get me to get up. play it carefully/cool etc• Have to find out for himself, no other way, poke around, listen, ask, play it carefully.• She was trying to play it cool.• The band had wanted a major deal for at least two years previously, but were determined to play it cool.• Rather than rushing into print in Nature, however, Cantor played it cool and cautious.• Tod's playing it cool, of course, as always.• Plus, playing it cool ... the dark secrets of an orchid grower And, who said Robins could sing? Related topics: Theatre play2 ●●● S1 W2 noun 1 theatre 剧院 [countableC]APT a story that is written to be performed by actors, especially in a theatre 剧本；戏剧 a play by Chekhov 一出契诃夫的戏剧 This is a major theme of Miller’s plays. 这是米勒剧作中的首要主题。 play about Edward Bond’s play about class war 爱德华·邦德关于阶级斗争的戏剧 2 amusement 娱乐 [uncountableU]PLAY A GAME OR SPORT things that people, especially children, do for amusement rather than as work 〔尤指儿童的〕游戏，玩耍；娱乐 Play is very important to a child’s development. 游戏对孩子的成长十分重要。 a play area 游戏区 through play The program aims to teach road safety through play. 这个节目旨在通过游戏进行道路交通安全的教育。 at play the happy shouts of children at play 孩子玩耍时快乐的叫嚷声 3 effect 效果 [uncountableU] the effect or influence of something 影响；作用 the free play of competition in the building industry 建筑业竞争的自由调节作用 at play There are a number of factors at play (=having an effect) in the current recession. 目前的不景气是由多重因素引发的。 bring/put something into play (=use something or make it have an effect) 使用某事物；使某事物发挥作用 A complex system of muscles is brought into play for each body movement. 身体的每一个动作都需要复杂的肌肉系统运动。 Political considerations do come into play (=have an effect) when making policy. 制定政策时，政治因素确有影响。 4 action in a game or sport 比赛或体育活动中的动作PLAY A GAME OR SPORT a) [uncountableU] the actions of the people who are playing a game or sport 比赛 Rain stopped play after only an hour. 比赛才进行了一小时就因雨告停。 b) [countableC] one particular action or set of actions during a game 〔比赛中的〕一个[套]动作 On the next play, Johnson ran 15 yards for a touchdown. 接下来的一次进攻，约翰逊跑了15码持球触地得分。 5 in play/out of play DSif a ball is in play or out of play, it is inside or outside the area in which the rules of the game allow you to hit, kick, catch etc the ball 〔球〕在界内/界外 He kicked the ball out of play. 他把球踢出界外。 Examples from the Corpus in play/out of play• Courier put only 50 percent of his first serves in play. 6. play on words SAYa use of a word that is interesting or amusing because it can be understood as having two very different meanings 使用双关语 SYN pun Examples from the Corpus play on words• But most of all, children laugh at jokes that are a play on words.• Perhaps the best solution is to see the place as a play on words.• Some scholars believe that Matthew is making a play on words and that the original word was Nezer.• In this chapter, I hope to show that these distinctions are important and not merely a play on words.• This was a play on words.• With Abraham's and Sarah's laughter the storyteller is indulging in another play on words.• Such, at least, is the suggestion of that play on words.• None the less the play on words is there in the text, and is appropriate. 7 play of light LIGHTpatterns made by light as it moves over a surface 光的闪烁 the play of light on the water 波光粼粼 Examples from the Corpus play of light• Make notes as you watch the play of light in various areas as the sun tracks east to west across the sky.• I have a wonderful play of light and shade, and the tungsten light gives a very similar effect. 8 make a play for something TRY TO DO OR GET somethingto make an attempt to gain something 设法得到某物 He made a play for the leadership last year. 他去年曾角逐领导权。 Examples from the Corpus make a play for something• Left alone for a few minutes on Vik's birthday, Karen makes a play for Steve.• Kramer wondered if she was worth making a play for.• Surely only the most decadent of aristocrats would make a play for another woman while his wife was in the same room. 9 make a play for somebody to try to begin a romantic or sexual relationship with someone 想和某人恋爱[发生性关系] It’s obvious he was making a play for her. 显然他在追求她。 Examples from the Corpus make a play for somebody• Left alone for a few minutes on Vik's birthday, Karen makes a play for Steve.• Kramer wondered if she was worth making a play for.• Surely only the most decadent of aristocrats would make a play for another woman while his wife was in the same room. 10 looseness 松动 [uncountableU]MOVE/CHANGE POSITION if there is some play in something, it is loose and can be moved 松动 There’s too much play in the rope. 那根绳子太松了。 → fair play, foul play COLLOCATIONS verbs write a play 写剧本 So far, he has written three plays. 迄今他已写了三个剧本。 go to (see) a play 看戏 While we were in New York, we went to a play. 我们在纽约时去看了一出戏。 see a play 看戏 I’ve never seen the play. 我从未看过这出戏。 watch a play 〔认真〕看戏 Some of the audience were talking instead of watching the play. 一些观众在讲话,而不在观剧。 perform a play 演戏 The play was performed by Brighton Youth Theatre. 该剧由布赖顿青年剧团出演。 act/perform/appear in a play 出演某剧 nShe acted in many plays on the London stage. be in a play (=be performing in a play) 出演某剧 nMichael is currently in a play on Broadway. ndo a play spoken (=arrange it or perform in it) Bob asked if I would do this play, and I agreed. put on a play (=arrange for it to be performed) 上演某剧 nThe school puts on a Nativity play every Christmas. direct a play (=tell the actors what to do) 执导某剧 nThe play is directed by Paulette Randall. produce/stage a play (=arrange its performance) 制作/上演某剧 rehearse a play (=practise it) 排演 nWe spent weeks rehearsing the play. na play opens (=its performances start) The play opens in San Francisco on Wednesday for a three-week run. na play runs (=it continues to be performed) The play ran for five months. na play closes (=its performances stop) The play closes on Sunday, so don’t miss it! ADJECTIVES/NOUN + play a stage play (=a play in a theatre) 舞台剧 I occasionally write reviews of local stage plays. 我偶尔会写文章评论本地的舞台剧。 a TV/radio play (=a play written to be performed on TV/radio) 电视剧/广播剧 nThis horror story would make a good radio play. a school play 校园剧 nI got a small part in the school play. na Nativity play British EnglishBrE (=a play about the birth of Jesus, performed by children at Christmas) She was chosen to play Mary in the nativity play. COMMON ERRORSDon’t say ‘give a play’. Say put on a play. 不要说 ‘give a play’. 而要说 put on a play. Examples from the Corpus play• He chose to do this by re-writing the scene in the form of a script for a play.• After Troilus and Cressida almost any play is a relief, even the brothel scenes of Pericles.• His doubts only increased when he performed another job, midway to finally making up his mind about the Bolt play.• Make enough plays like that and nobody in the clubhouse will care if you ever say a word.• "Pygmalion" was one of Shaw's most famous plays.• This brings into play an area of training known as free sparring.• There needs to be a little more play in the fan belt for it to work right.• On the next play, Ervin caught a forty-yard pass to score a touchdown.• Parents need to understand the importance of play in a child's development.• There's a huge difference in the level of play from college to the NFL.• Episodes are based on dialogues, role play and cloze exercises, with the emphasis on building awareness of language appropriateness.• These characters can be used to start play very quickly, saving time for eager players!• The play is about two men on trial for murder. at play• By observing children at play , teachers can understand more about how they see the world.• There are some important medical considerations at play in this tropical locale. bring/put something into play• However, an unreasonable deviation brings s.12 into play.• They suggested that the impact be harder, which would automatically contract the probe mechanism bringing the latches into play.• I try to imagine the arguments another lawyer might bring into play.• But what really puts the company into play is the fact that its stock has basically tanked.• In so doing, this overrides the channel selector, bringing both channels into play at once.• Typically, some one has a bright idea and decides to put it into play.• Now a report from the Pensions Management Institute has suggested ways of changing the law to bring pension rights into play.• It may have the means, but be unwilling or unable to bring them into play at a particular time.• This time he was putting his heart into playing an angel in a Nativity play at the local church. From Longman Business Dictionary playplay1 /pleɪ/ verb [transitiveT] 1play the market(s)FINANCE if you play the market, you buy and sell shares on the stockmarket, especially to make a quick profit rather than as an investment for the future Unless you can afford to lose money occasionally, it’s foolish to play the market in later life. 2play the system to use the rules of a system in a clever way in order to gain an advantage These accountants know how to play the tax system. 3have money to play with to have extra money which you can use for a particular purpose If you do get a severance check (=money you get from your employer when you lose your job) and land a job immediately, you’ll have some extra money to play with. playplay2 noun [countableC] 1informalFINANCE an occasion when someone risks money on a financial market In stock options, the biggest play of the day was in BP. 2in play journalismFINANCE if a company is in play, it may be bought in a TAKEOVER The company has strongly denied it’s in play. Origin play1 Old English plegan play2 Old English plega →20-33 →PHRASAL VERBS1play2 noun →COLLOCATIONS1
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