play the game

Idioms and Phrases

Behave according to accepted customs, obey the rules. For example, Not every foreign company can be counted on to play the game . The game here alludes to a sport with a set of rules. [Late 1800s] Also see play games .

Example Sentences

"We are trying to play the game a different way," he told BBC Sport.

From BBC

He might not be old enough to play the game Grand Theft Auto V, but that didn’t stop a 13-year-old from stealing his parent’s car and leading South Pasadena police on a brief chase before pulling over, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times

“What I’ve understood about myself and my place in this is that, in order to be successful, you have to play the game,” Gadsby said.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s part of it, though. Like I told the guys today, Saturday at 7:30, nobody’s going to care what you had or didn’t have. You got to be ready to go play the game. You’ve got different obstacles that come up, and you’ve got to go face them. We’ll deal with it, adjust how we need to, but no excuses — gotta be ready for Saturday.”

From Los Angeles Times

And the operatives could depend on one hard-edged principle: that those who style themselves as men of the world know there is an iron fist in every velvet glove, understand what might await them in the shadows and so, having decided to play the game, they will obey its rules.

From Salon

Related Words

• acclimate
• accommodate
• accustom
• alter
• comply
• conform
• fit
• modify
• prepare
• readjust
• revise
• shape
• suit
• tailor