play doctor

noun

, Theater.

1. a person, usually a professional playwright, employed to improve a script, especially shortly before the play's opening.

Word History and Origins

Origin of play doctor¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

The new production will see Smith play doctor Thomas Stockmann, a medical officer who finds the public baths are contaminated.

From BBC

“But I think it’s very dangerous to have doctors violating their Hippocratic oath and killing people…I want the doctor to play doctor, and not executioner.”

From Los Angeles Times

“We don’t allow attorneys general to legislate, and we don’t allow them to play doctor,” Rothert said.

From Washington Times

A reliable Democratic vote when she served in the House from 2007 to 2017, she once stood on the House floor and shared her experience of having an abortion, calling it “a deeply personal decision” and accusing Republican lawmakers of “wanting to play doctor.”

From New York Times

“But I was miserable. I’m getting paid $17.50 an hour to play doctor all day. It was not worth it.”

From Washington Post