plain sailing • plane sailing plain sailing—1. (Nautical) sailing in open unrestricted waters: He can take an observation and is acquainted with that part of navigation called plain sailing . 2. an easy, straight- forward task, procedure, etc.: Once we’ve fixed the computer it will be plain sailing . plane sailing—(Nautical) calculation of a ship’s position as if the earth were flat instead of spherical: In plane sailing , the principal terms made use of are the course, distance, departure … any two of which being given the others can be found. plain to someone • plain with someone plain to someone—(of things) easy to understand and clear to a person: It was made quite plain to me that my career would be a very short one in the police service. plain with someone—(of people) frank and honest in dealing with another person: To be plain with you, there is no hope of your passing this examination. plane man • plane people plane man —(Mining ) a worker who controls cars on a self- acting incline (loaded car going down one track pulls empty cars up on other): A laborer who controls the movement of cars is also called drum runner, monitor operator, plane man . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the compound planesman—a person who operates the diving planes on a submarine: The diving planesmen tilt the forward planes down and the after planes up. plane people —(also: jet people) asylum seekers, refugees, or immigrants who relocate by airplane: About 2,500 of these “plane people ” are leaving each month…. This number is roughly equal to the total monthly arrivals in the region by boat people. planetarium theater • planetary house planetarium theater —a building housing an instrument for projecting the positions of the stars and planets onto a domed ceiling: See stars and constellations on the dome of our plan - etarium theater ; use a star chart to find stars in the sky. planetary house —(Astrolog y) one of 12 equal areas (constel- lations) into which the zodiac is divided: One of the first pub- lished tests of natal astrology tested the thesis that planetary house locations were related to a person’s career path. plastic bomb • plastic bullet plastic bomb—a bomb containing plastic explosive: In France there were plastic bomb attacks, directed mainly against liberal politicians and journalists. plastic bullet—a projectile made of plastic material, used by security forces in riot control: New devices for riot control, including a plastic bullet , have been issued to the Army. play a love game • play for love play a love game—said when smb.’s attitude to matters of love is not serious enough: She is afraid that you’re playing a love game instead of being serious. play for love—(also: play for fun) play cards, etc. without stakes: The Parson did not like card games played for money, but he was willing to play for love . See also: love game / love play. play a part • play the part play a part—1. be involved in smth. and have an effect on it: Biochemistry may be defined as the study of the chemical processes which play a part in the life phenomena of plants and animals. 2. impersonate smb. such as a stage character: These pages contain top-secret materials about Bondiana— about the actors, who played a part of Bond. 3. deliberately behave in a way that hides one’s real character or feelings: It’s enough to make a man bughouse when he has to play a part from morning to night. Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase play one’s part—(also: do one’s part) 1. = play a part 1: He not only played his part in shaping the organization, but he also did what might be termed important field work for it. 2. do what is required of one: Soliah played her part well before the media, speaking of her relief and her gratitude to friends and neighbors. play the part—1. = play a part 2: Easton played the part of an aspiring singer with a humble background that prevents her from achieving her dream. 2. perform the function of other things: Banks which had adopted the gold exchange standard will become dependent on the banks which play the part of gold centers. play against time • play for time play against time —do smth. so as to finish one’s task before the expiry of a certain period: “You’re playing against time and the elements,” he said, recounting the rescue in a phone interview. play for time—delay action or a decision in the hope that conditions will be more favorable later on: This skepticism is influenced by suspicions that they will not bargain seriously and merely play for time . play at bears • play the bear play at bears —(of little children) engage in a game of bears: You can play at bears in the nursery when we get back, if you want. play the bear —(coll.) cause a good deal of trouble or bother to a person: Chaps that have got something on their minds can’t stand idleness, it plays the bear with them. play at something • play on something play at something—1. (of children) engage in a specified game: Nana had turned on the water for Michael’s bath. The two older children were playing at being mother and father. 2. perform smth. in a not very serious manner: It’s no good playing at business, you have to take it seriously. 3. fill a par- ticular position in a sports team: Vasquez played at center for- ward and center midfield … and he led the team in goals scored. play on something—1. perform on a musical instrument: I’m no longer aware that I’m playing on a violin; I’m just express- ing myself. 2. make use or advantage of smb.’s feelings: By playing on the old lady’s fears, the criminals were able to per- suade her to give them her money. 3. emit light, a jet of water from a hose, etc. onto a surface: Searchlights played on the river upstream to light up any floating mines. 4. make clever use of some aspect of a particular word or idea, often for a humorous effect: Arbuthnot’s satire plays on the idea of society as a human body. play ball • play the ball play ball —1. engage in a sport such as baseball, soccer, etc.: My buddies couldn’t decide where we wanted to play ball , so we gave up and went to a movie instead 2. go along with a person; cooperate willingly in a plan or activity: I might have played ball just a little, but I scorned to. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase play catch-up ball1. play a game determinedly when one is losing: “We made them play catch-up ball ,” commented head coach Rick Schwiebert. 2. work hard to recover from a disadvantage: For the last two years it’s been a matter of playing catch-up ball with the budget. play the ball—(in cricket, football, etc.) hit or kick the ball: I pointed to the penalty mark, but the defender protested loudly that he had played the ball . plain sailing – 268 –