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Play on
verb
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To exploit (a potential weakness or vulnerability) by exacerbating.
"to play on someone's fears"
- 2 To exploit (a double meaning, similarity in sound, etc.) for humorous or creative effect.
"This joke plays on the fact that 'thirsty' sounds similar to 'Thursday'."
- 3 To impinge upon in a recurring or nagging way.
"to play on one's mind, or conscience"
- 4 To frequently allude to or return to as a theme.
"The pamphlet plays on the idea that all social conflict is class-based."
- 5 to hit the ball into his own wicket, thus being out bowled
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- 6 To let the game continue after a foul has been committed, because the situation is advantageous to the team who would be awarded a foul.
- 7 To cause (an opposing player) to be onside rather than offside due to one's position on the field of play.
"The ref said that Smith was offside, but I think that Jones played him on."
- 8 Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, on.
"I knew I was losing, but I played on anyways."
See also for "play on"
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Unscramble this word: playon