play possum

1. To pretend to be dead, a trick used by opossums to defend themselves from predators: “Everyone thought the old con man had died, but it turned out he was just playing possum.” By extension, it also means “to pretend to be asleep, or to lie low”: “Come on, Harry, open your door. You can't play possum forever.”

Idioms and Phrases

Pretend to be dead or asleep, as in Max always plays possum when it's time to clean up his room . This expression alludes to the fact that the opossum falls into an apparent coma when caught, giving the appearance of death. [1820s]

Example Sentences

Why not, he asked himself, "play possum" with the man and the dog, and pretend to be badly hurt and unconscious?

From Project Gutenberg

To play possum when one hears the footfall of Fate on the stairs.

From Project Gutenberg

Finding this game did not work, he soon began to "play possum" again.

From Project Gutenberg