d. 1796. Burns, Merry Muses, 'They Took Me,' &c. They took me to the Holy Band For playing by [= away from] my wife, Sirs.
Phrases:—To play artful = to feign simplicity, to keep a card or two up one's sleeve; to play boots (the devil, the mischief, Ned, &c.) = to thrust, to spoil, to ruin; to play off = (1) to simulate, and (2) to expose to merriment, and (3) to make an end; to play on (or upon) = to trifle with; to play up = (1) to do one's best, and (2) to be troublesome; to play up to = to take one's cue from another; played up (or out) = used up, or ruined; to play with one's beard = to deceive; to play it low = to take advantage; to play light = (1) to take it easy, and (2) to keep one's temper; to play for = to deal with generally; to play dark = to conceal one's character or motive; to play the whole game = to cheat; to play least in sight = to hide; to play to the gas (theatrical) = to play to small audiences (see quot. 1899); to play to the gallery (theatrical) = to rant, to gag, to use the coarsest and cheapest means; to play it off = to cheat; to play the sovereign = to flatter an inferior; to make good play = to work to advantage, or with execution; to come into play = to take one's turn, or share; to play fair (or false) = to act or deal honestly (or the reverse); to play one's cards well = to advance one's interests; to play into one's hands = to advantage; to keep (or hold) in play = to retain control, keep things going, or to engage; to play the giddy goat = to behave like a fool; to play with = to trifle; to play upon advantage = to cheat; to play in and out = to trifle; played out = exhausted, ruined, done for; to play a good knife and fork (see knife, and add quot. 1749) to play the game = to do honestly at whatever cost; to play diddle-diddle = to trick, to cajole; to play the duck = (l) to go contrary, or against the grain: as ducks are plucked, and (2) to prove a coward; to play off one's dust = to drink. Other proverbial sayings are: 'She's like a cat, she'll play with her tail,' of a wanton; 'The play won't pay the candles' (or 'the acting is not worth the lights') = the end is not worth the means or risk; 'He'll play a small game rather than stand out,' of a meddler or busybody. Also see bear; beard; bob-fool; booty; deuce; devil; dickens; ducks; fast; fathers-and-mothers; fiddle; gooseberry; Harry; hell; hob; hooky; in-and-in; in-and-out; knife; love; mischief; possum; second fiddle; schoolmaster; tail; ugly; uptails-all; velvet; wag; wagtail.
1383. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, 1. 13,163. Til we be ded, or else that we play a pilgrimage [i.e., to play off or pretend to go a pilgrimage].
1400. York. Myst. [Oliphant, New English, i. 194. There are the new phrases . . . spille sport, play fair, &c].
1525. Tyndale, Works [Parker Soc.], ii. 35. As soon as he hath played out all his lusts . . . he cometh again with his old profession.
1530. Skelton [Dyce, Works, ii. 203]. What blunderer is yonder that playth didil-diddil.
