Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase play the ball not the man— not resort to attacks directed against the character of the person rather than the subject under discussion: Let’s play the ball not the man comrades, simply hurl- ing insults at people who differ with our views will not help. play by ear • play it by ear play by ear—play music without notes by relying on one’s sense of tune and harmony: In fact I can only play by ear and have never been able to read music. play it by ear —act in a situation taking things as they come with no prior plans: I’m still not sure what I’ll do when I get there, I’m just going to play it by ear . play donkey • play donkey-drop play donkey—take part in a simple card game played with special cards: Rachel forced us to play donkey with her. For some reason she kept winning and I’m always losing. play donkey-drop —(cricket, tennis, etc.) hit a slow ball so that it travels in a high curve: He is content to play “donkey drops ” back into court, awaiting the right ball to hit. play down to someone • play up to someone play down to someone—deliberately talk to or behave towards smb. so that the person does not feel inferior: Joe Mystic does not play down to his audience. He plays to and has fun with his audience. play up to someone—1. flatter a person (in order to win favor for oneself ): Are you the employee who plays up to your boss day after day? 2. act in a helpful or cooperative manner towards a person: His mother did social small talk without daring to stop, and Wilkie played up to her. 3. act in a theatrical per- formance so as to support or assist another actor: Amberg started with a stock company of very indifferent merit. They could not play up to the stars whom he occasionally invited. Note: a) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase play someone up—1. make smb. seem to be more important: The director tried to play up Ann, but she was not really a star. 2. annoy or irritate a person: They are trying to play me up . They believe that I will lose control. 3. (of one’s arm, stomach, etc.) give trouble to a person: His left elbow started playing him up and he was ordered to rest. b) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase make a play for someone—attempt to attract the romantic or other interest of a person: You’re making a play for Joe and are waiting for him to take a personal interest in you. play games • play the game play games —act cunningly or dishonestly towards a person: Don’t play games , Mona. I know about the theft, and I know that you know about it. play the game—observe the rules or conventions: You can’t deny the role that competitiveness plays in raising standards. So you have to play the game if you want to succeed. play games with someone • play with someone play games with someone—act cunningly or dishonestly towards a person: Don’t try to play games with me. You’re not nearly as clever as you think you are. play with someone—treat smb.’s feelings or affections in a casual and irresponsible way: I feel a pang of remorse because she may love me seriously, although I am only playing with her. See also: play someone at his own game / play someone’s game. play gooseberry • play old gooseberry play gooseberry —be the third person present with two lovers; act as an escort: Let the old woman choose between playing gooseberry or loitering behind alone. play old gooseberry —(UK dated) cause damage or devastation to smth.: She would play old gooseberry with the property if we hadn’t someone to look after it. play hard to get • play hardball play hard to get—pretend to be unapproachable or uninter- ested, with a view to strengthening one’s position: To be blunt, you sort of strike me as playing hard to get . play hardball—use uncompromising tactics: The insurance company played hardball with desperate homeowners, relying on questionable experts, and falsified reports. play it low down • play it low-key play it low down —behave meanly or unfairly towards a per- son: If it weren’t playing it low down on the fellows that have been in it from the start, I’d like to enlist. Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase play it low—1. (of music) play at a low volume: I am used to listening to music while exercising. And I play it low enough so I can hear outside sound…. 2. = play it low down: But I’m not going to play it low on an old shipmate, and you shall have a fourth of whatever comes. play it low-key—(also: keep it on the low down) do smth. without drawing much attention to it: For a company about to revolutionize the Internet, they liked to play it low key . play of words • play on words play of words—the use of words merely for the purpose of producing an oratorical effect: The speeches of Thucydides exhibit the antithesis, the climaxes, the plays of words of the rhetorician. play on words—a playful use of words to produce a humor- ous effect by similarity of sound: When closely analyzed, many jokes depend for their effect upon a play on words . play someone at his own game • play someone’s game play someone at his own game—return smb.’s hostile or unfair action with the like: Men used to come in the office and I never used to get introduced. So I’ve started playing them at their own game . play someone’s game—1. advance a person’s plans or schemes, whether willingly or unintentionally: If I want him to give me the information I need, I guess I should play his game . 2. use another person’s unfair practices, especially to gain one’s own ends: If playing his dirty game is the only way of winning the election I’d rather lose. See also: play games with someone / play with someone. play the gallery • play to the gallery play the gallery—act the part of spectators (applauding, etc.): We were constantly called in to play the gallery to his witty remarks. play to the gallery —set out to win popularity in a cheap and showy way: The attorney seemed less concerned with the fur- therance of justice than with playing to the gallery of reporters. Cf.: gallery play — said of cheap showmanship: His co-propa- gandists arranged one such emotionally manipulative “gallery play .” plead for someone • plead with someone plead for someone—1. (legal) address a court of law as an advocate on behalf of either the plaintiff or the defendant: Nawaz had boycotted the game of court proceedings and now he does not have even a lawyer to plead for him. 2. make an earnest appeal or entreaty for the person in whose interest one speaks: Some friends were admitted to his cell, and they informed him that they had pleaded for him, but in vain. 3. (followed by Infinitive) ask a person earnestly to do smth.: I – 269 – plead for someone