To play off

Play \Play\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Played}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Playing}.] [OE. pleien, AS. plegian, plegan, to play, akin
   to plega play, game, quick motion, and probably to OS. plegan
   to promise, pledge, D. plegen to care for, attend to, be
   wont, G. pflegen; of unknown origin. [root]28. Cf. {Plight},
   n.]
   1. To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for
      the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot.
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            As Cannace was playing in her walk.   --Chaucer.
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            The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day,
            Had he thy reason, would he skip and play! --Pope.
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            And some, the darlings of their Lord,
            Play smiling with the flame and sword. --Keble.
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   2. To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be
      careless.
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            "Nay," quod this monk, "I have no lust to pleye."
                                                  --Chaucer.
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            Men are apt to play with their healths. --Sir W.
                                                  Temple.
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   3. To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball;
      hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes.
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   4. To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a
      flute.
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            One that . . . can play well on an instrument.
                                                  --Ezek.
                                                  xxxiii. 32.
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            Play, my friend, and charm the charmer. --Granville.
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   5. To act; to behave; to practice deception.
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            His mother played false with a smith. --Shak.
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   6. To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with
      alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as,
      the fountain plays.
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            The heart beats, the blood circulates, the lungs
            play.                                 --Cheyne.
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   7. To move gayly; to wanton; to disport.
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            Even as the waving sedges play with wind. --Shak.
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            The setting sun
            Plays on their shining arms and burnished helmets.
                                                  --Addison.
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            All fame is foreign but of true desert,
            Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart.
                                                  --Pope.
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   8. To act on the stage; to personate a character.
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            A lord will hear your play to-night.  --Shak.
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            Courts are theaters where some men play. --Donne.
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   {To play into a person's hands}, to act, or to manage
      matters, to his advantage or benefit.

   {To play off}, to affect; to feign; to practice artifice.

   {To play upon}.
      (a) To make sport of; to deceive.
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                Art thou alive?
                Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight.
                                                  --Shak.
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      (b) To use in a droll manner; to give a droll expression
          or application to; as, to play upon words.
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Play \Play\, v. t.
   1. To put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a
      fortification; to play a trump.
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            First Peace and Silence all disputes control,
            Then Order plays the soul.            --Herbert.
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   2. To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ.
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   3. To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to
      play a waltz on the violin.
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   4. To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in
      action; to execute; as, to play tricks.
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            Nature here
            Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will
            Her virgin fancies.                   --Milton.
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   5. To act or perform (a play); to represent in music action;
      as, to play a comedy; also, to act in the character of; to
      represent by acting; to simulate; to behave like; as, to
      play King Lear; to play the woman.
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            Thou canst play the rational if thou wilt. --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.
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   6. To engage in, or go together with, as a contest for
      amusement or for a wager or prize; as, to play a game at
      baseball.
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   7. To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.
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   {To play hob}, to play the part of a mischievous spirit; to
      work mischief.

   {To play off}, to display; to show; to put in exercise; as,
      to play off tricks.

   {To play one's cards}, to manage one's means or
      opportunities; to contrive.

   {Played out}, tired out; exhausted; at the end of one's
      resources. [Colloq.]
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