Play along (Take part in a charade, deception, or practical joke):
- He decided to play along with his friends' prank and pretend to believe their made-up story.
- They agreed to play along with the surprise party and act surprised when the guest of honor arrived.
- She knew it was a joke, but she decided to play along and act as if she fell for their trick.
Play around (Behave in a silly, childish, or irresponsible way):
- He liked to play around and make funny faces to entertain his younger siblings.
- They spent the afternoon playing around in the park, running and laughing.
- She sometimes liked to play around with her friends, joking and teasing each other.
Play around (Work with in a non-serious manner):
- He would often play around with different art techniques, experimenting and exploring.
- They were just playing around with the software, trying out different settings and features.
- She enjoyed playing around with ingredients in the kitchen, creating new recipes.
Play at (Pretend to be a different person while playing a game):
- He liked to play at being a detective and solving mysteries with his friends.
- They would play at being pirates, dressing up and searching for hidden treasure.
- She enjoyed playing at being a princess, wearing a crown and twirling in a fancy dress.
Play at (Do something in a manner that lacks seriousness, commitment, or professionalism):
- He would occasionally play at being a musician, strumming a guitar but not taking it seriously.
- They would play at being actors, putting on exaggerated performances for their friends.
- She didn't want to play at being a chef, so she enrolled in culinary school to learn properly.
Play down (Make or attempt to make something seem less important, likely, or obvious):
- He tried to play down his achievements, not wanting to appear boastful.
- They played down the significance of the issue, trying to downplay its importance.
- She wanted to play down her role in the project, giving credit to the entire team.
Play off (Pretend not to be embarrassed, upset, impressed, or otherwise affected by something):
- He tried to play off his mistake as a joke, laughing along with everyone else.
- They played off their disappointment, acting as if it didn't bother them.
- She played off the criticism, responding with confidence and ignoring the negative comments.
Play out (Play music to accompany the end of, or as a final segment in, a program, broadcast, etc.):
- The orchestra played out the final piece, concluding the concert on a high note.
- They had a live band play out the closing credits of the TV show.
- She enjoyed hearing the familiar tune play out at the end of her favorite radio program.
Play out (Occur in a certain manner):
- The events played out just as they had anticipated, with no surprises.
- They watched the drama play out on the news, following the unfolding story.
- She wondered how the situation would play out and what the outcome would be.
Play up (Misbehave):
- He had a tendency to play up when he didn't get his way, throwing tantrums.
- They scolded their dog when it started to play up and chew on the furniture.
- She warned her children not to play up during the family gathering and to behave themselves.
Play up (Make or attempt to make something appear more important, likely, or obvious; to showcase or highlight):
- He tried to play up his experience and qualifications during the job interview
to make a strong impression.
- They wanted to play up the benefits of their product in the marketing campaign.
- She decided to play up her artistic skills and showcase her best works at the gallery.
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