play for

1. Take part for a particular reason, as in We're not playing for money, just for fun . A special usage of this idiom is play for laughs , that is, with the aim of arousing laughter.

2. play someone for . Manage someone for one's own ends, make a fool of, dupe or cheat. For example, I resent your playing me for a fool , or He suddenly found out she'd been playing him for a sucker . This usage employs play in the sense of “exhaust a hooked fish,” that is, manage it on the line so that it exhausts itself. [Mid-1600s]

Example Sentences

The complaint was filed by SJSU’s volleyball co-captain Brooke Slusser and 10 athletes from other schools, who allege that their Title IX rights are being violated by allowing the transgender athlete to play for a women’s sports team.

From Los Angeles Times

The now 31-year-old striker would go on to play for Tottenham Hotspur and his current team, Bayern Munich.

From BBC

This squad, led by an impressive captain in Dewi Lake, is full of young men proud to play for their country - but they are currently lightweight and novices on the international stage.

From BBC

And Knecht landed in a situation where there would be early opportunity to play for Redick, a player Knecht’s college coach, Rick Barnes, tried to model his game after.

From Los Angeles Times

He then doubled down on his message as he insisted it endangered the culture former manager Gareth Southgate had built up during his eights years in charge, when it became a pleasure to play for the country again.

From BBC

Related Words

• pony up
• speculate
• wager