PLAY


Meaning of PLAY in English

I. verb

COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES

a band performs/plays

The band is performing live on Saturday night.

a play area (= a place for children to play )

There’s a nice play area for the kiddies.

appear in a film/play

She has already appeared in a number of films.

appear/play/speak at a festival (= perform at a festival )

Sting is scheduled to appear at a festival in Amsterdam next month.

do/play/have a gig

The band are doing a gig in Sheffield on Nov 12.

double play

ensure fair play

rules designed to ensure fair play

fair play

rules designed to ensure fair play

foul play

The police said they had no reason to suspect foul play .

learn to play an instrument ( also learn an instrument )

All students at the school have the opportunity to learn an instrument.

mystery play

Nativity play

the school’s Nativity play

passion play

perform/play to an audience

The band played to huge audiences in Mexico City and Buenos Aires.

play a CD

Shall I play my new CD?

play a character

I wanted to play the character of Danny.

play a crucial role/part in sth

Parents play a crucial role in preparing their children for adult life.

play a game

They explained how to play the game.

play a joke on sb (= trick someone to make people laugh )

John’s always playing jokes on his brothers.

play a match

We played the match in heavy rain.

play a melody

At this point, the flute begins to play the melody.

play a part

She plays the part of an ageing beauty queen.

play a prominent part/role (in sth)

Mandela played a prominent role in the early years of the ANC.

play a role

She was the first actress to play the role of Peter Pan.

play a song (= with singing and musical instruments )

The band played a lot of their old songs.

play (a) sport

My ambition was to play sport at the highest level.

play a tune

He played a tune on the piano.

play an active role in sth

Do you play an active role in your community?

play an instrument

Can you play a musical instrument?

play as a team

One reason for the 49ers’ success is that they play as a team.

play by the rules (= do what is expected and agreed )

The system works well enough — as long as everyone plays by the rules.

play chess

Do you want to play chess?

play cricket

Do you play cricket?

play date

play devil’s advocate

He would play devil’s advocate with anyone.

play dough

play favorites American English (= treat one person better than others )

The manager insisted he doesn’t play favorites.

play football

The boys are playing football in the garden.

play for a team

He wants to play for a better team.

play golf

I play golf at the weekends.

play havoc with

Rain has continued to play havoc with sporting events.

play host (to sth) (= provide the place, food etc for a special meeting or event )

The gallery is playing host to an exhibition of sculpture.

play in/perform in a concert

I'm playing in a jazz concert on Saturday night.

play music

A small band was playing jazz music.

play on sb’s sympathy (= make someone feel sorry for you in order to get an advantage for yourself )

If that doesn’t work, she knows how to play on his sympathy.

play poker

Can you play poker ?

play snooker

They meet up every Friday to play snooker .

play sth on the piano

We all sang while Mum played something on the piano.

play the market (= risk money on the stock market )

As soon as she graduated from college, she started to play the market .

play the piano

Can you play the piano?

play to your strengths (= use people's qualities and abilities in the best way in order to achieve something )

Both parties are playing to their strengths.

played a leading role

The army played a leading role in organizing the attempted coup.

played the drums

Jones played the drums in an all-girl band.

play/have a role

He played a prominent role in the company’s success.

playing card

playing dumb (= pretending to be stupid )

‘What is it?’ I asked, playing dumb .

playing field

playing for high stakes

We’re playing for high stakes here.

playing head games

He’s obviously playing head games with you.

playing it straight (= being honest )

I hope, for your sake, you’re playing it straight .

playing live

The band is playing live in Birmingham tonight.

playing on the swings

kids playing on the swings

playing singles

I prefer playing singles .

playing to a full house

Billy Graham is a speaker who can be sure of playing to a full house .

playing tricks on

After walking for hours in the hot sun, his mind began playing tricks on him.

playing tricks

The girls were playing tricks on their teacher.

playing...with...toys

Annie was playing happily with her toys .

play/perform an essential role in sth

Antibiotics play an essential role in controlling infection.

play/sing in a band (= be a musician or singer in a band )

Budd played in a rock band.

play...trump card (= use his advantage )

But then he decided to play his trump card .

play...venues (= perform at )

The band will play as many venues as possible.

plug and play

puppet show/theatre/play

a 20-minute puppet show

ruled out foul play

Detectives have not ruled out foul play .

sense of fair play

This kind of behavior violates many people’s sense of fair play .

shoot/play pool

We went to the pub and played pool.

suspect foul play

The police said they had no reason to suspect foul play .

suspect murder/foul play

The position of the body led the police to suspect murder.

COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS

■ ADVERB

around

Not that she minded Jack playing around because she knew that one day he would be hers.

He played around with both boys and girls and he was capable of uncontrolled violence.

My little girl loves playing around to music.

Why were men able to play around with any sort of drab?

It is generally true that PageMaker users find out about some 80-90% of the program's capabilities just by playing around .

Because of the way my grandfather lived, getting drunk and playing around , his son suffered.

She encourages customers to play around with samples so they feel they are helping to design their own rooms.

No one wants to walk around playing the way I did last year.

well

I agree he plays well enough for Eire tho.

The Raiders had enough incentive to play well Sunday.

As for the two principals, they play well if not brilliantly together as the star-crossed lovers.

The promise of massive tax cuts is a political staple that has always played well in the past.

From what I saw of the match he played well .

We played well against them in New York.

When he was playing well and winning, he still hit diabolical shots that you couldn't believe.

I expect us to go out and play well .

■ NOUN

ball

The first option is to play the ball as it lies.

If she scored high enough, she would come to the university and play ball .

These are the two accepted ways of playing the rising ball .

This year, the labor situation is still unsettled, but Dewey is ready to go to Arizona and play ball .

You may return to where the original stroke was played and, under a one-stroke penalty, play another ball .

I played rookie ball and Class-A.

Children were playing and throwing a ball for each other to catch.

In other words, let somebody else play with the ball occasionally.

band

In high season the village brass band plays regular concerts and there are waterski displays most weeks.

Lightning struck twice when the band played the wedding of friend Brian Setzer, the rockabilly guitarist and ex-Stray Cat.

The soldiers were lined up in the square again, flags waved, the band played the welcoming march.

The band still plays 100 concerts a year.

When the band started to play again after their break he danced only once with Lily, but twice with Madge.

Sensing the audience craving for that golden era, the band played it up.

card

Oh, no - she knew how to play her cards right.

As a result, they must learn to play their cards differently.

Berger moved past the men who were playing cards .

Previously, the company had a reputation of playing its cards close to its chest.

Mugabe now plays the race card .

Hardaway has played his final card .

It is a team game played by picking cards and describing as many entries before the timer runs out.

He played cards with Mrs Bedwin and listened to stories about her family.

character

Because she played a character we liked.

Redford played a character where everything came easy.

Rex may be the ideal idol to many men but you will have to settle with playing his character in the game.

What Ullman wants is to play every character in her imagination, at great personal sacrifice.

According to Robin Williams, who plays Peter, the character has the business world at his mercy.

Woodard plays this conflicted character at an Emmy / CableACE level.

He narrates most of the film and his real-life son Guillaume plays his character as a young man.

Sister Aimee herself-in fetching costume-always played the lead character .

child

You get the child who plays for safety and draws what he has drawn before.

If your child enjoys playing with trains, this is a marvelous opportunity to take advantage of that interest.

The child wants to play with other children.

If children play on or next to the track, this video warns, they're putting their own lives at risk.

Some self-absorbed children play elaborate fantasy games by themselves, and one can admire their creativity and imagination.

When you have some one in pain and a child who wants to play , you have to deal with the pain first.

Younger children can play the software, but it was not designed for them.

football

I wondered if any of them had ever played football with Romario.

He had played football in college and claimed he had an instinct for battle.

He insisted on returning to his old school, where he passed his exams and regularly plays football .

Benny, you ever play football ?

Leeds do play a lot of football , but they hit a long ball as well.

We want him to play football .

He played league football at 50.

They still play attractive football , but there is no end product.

game

It was a game they played .

How can we recognize when a game is being played ?

But of the five games played since her injury, the Ducks have won four.

It was the first time Yusupov has ever beaten Karpov, and leaves the scores level with three games left to play .

They have 17 games left to play .

It was like a trick, a game she had played .

Book No. 9 came from a game we used to play together when we were kids called Mary Weatherworth.

games

The Dauphin was showing Henry that he was just a stupid kid who should still be playing games .

Also, Arias played in 84 games with the Angels last year.

About twenty or twenty-five guests would assemble at six o'clock, and we would play party games until supper.

About 2. 7 million households have people who play computer games .

Had to play games too, and felt dead.

He treated the piglet tenderly, played games with it, and spoke to it as if to a child.

I don't care to play out my silly games before the assembled company.

golf

We used to play golf , but went by the board when he moved.

But he played splendid golf , which at least kept his fans in good spirits.

Steve's been playing golf for 18 months now.

But you just watch Nick Faldo play a round of golf in a Major, no-one does it better.

By six I was playing golf .

But for those who take the plunge there is plenty to keep them amused, particularly if they play bowls or golf .

In those days, hardly anybody around here played golf .

match

Traditionally traders play farmers in the match , which has no referee and no rules.

Braking, he thought of matches a child had been playing with, matches spilled from a box.

Female speaker Don't play with matches and don't play near fires.

The tragedy was that Rochford played no more than 80 matches for his county.

Extra Time - Can be played if a cup match is drawn.

We played the match and won, and just before saying goodbye I said I'd see him at Birkdale.

You played in that match when I crocked my knee.

But if Liverpool are playing in a big match , we let them stay up until the end.

music

It will help if you lie down and have some very soft music playing .

Fraser and I both studied classical music and revived it playing traditional stuff.

Inside the music was still playing .

He has taught himself to paint, to write music , play the flute, to write.

All the players walk around the room while the music is being played .

Fortunately, there's usually groovy soul music playing and eye-catching art adorning the walls.

I threw myself into organising the funeral, picking out the music I wanted played .

As one might suspect for addicted musicians, music plays a very small role in their lives.

part

Particular attention is paid to ageism, and the part counselling can play in combating its effects.

One is the extraordinary part that women have played in the spread of the movement.

Finally he considers the part education should play .

In fact, it often appeared that the part men play in some pentecostal churches is more shadow than substance.

However, computers do have a large part to play in education.

What part precisely did Leonardo play in developing the human imagination?

Perhaps this explains the exceptional range of the parts he played .

piano

He rarely drank, never smoked and played the piano , but not for the purposes of a sing-song.

Terrasson, who was born in Berlin and grew up in Paris, began playing piano at 5.

He cycled to the school, and he played the piano .

She played the piano for an hour every Thursday at a Northeast Austin retirement home.

Anne was playing the piano , and singing quietly to herself.

If Tiffani wants to play the piano , he has decided that she will have the lessons.

Jobim sings or plays piano or guitar on every selection.

role

Activities include group exercises, role playing and much feedback and discussion.

The leading role played by Mary at the Crucifixion and Resurrection needs no re-telling.

It has a positive role to play in an organisation, and that role is particularly emphasised in this chapter.

Congress still has a big role to play in shaping the missile defence budget.

Although Napoleon was not much use on this occasion, the full-size skeleton has an important role to play in the future.

Obviously, sponsors have a very important role to play .

Wages councils, set up in the early 1900s, have no role to play in the 1990s, ministers argue.

The article, instead, juxtaposes the practice with the important role played by women in that patriarchal society.

rule

They were all playing by the same rules .

No significant playing rules changes are in the works.

Anyone can do it so long as they are not criminals or kids, and promise to play by the rules .

They'd played by the rules and made what was often an unpleasant ocean voyage that cost them most of their savings.

This panto is playing strictly by the rules .

Jody is not playing by the rules he values.

All games to be played according to pre-arranged rules .

Whether the department has to play by the same rules is debatable.

team

It is a team game played by picking cards and describing as many entries before the timer runs out.

The eight teams will play a round-robin tournament beginning on July 21, with the top four advancing to single-elimination semifinals.

As head coach Mike White noted this week, that emphasis has paid off with much improved special teams play .

Some of the team also had to play a couple of games up on stage.

He forced team play in his unit.

I realize our team plays that much better when certain guys get into it.

■ VERB

continue

Findings show that A-levels continue to play a dominant role in regulating entry to Higher Education.

I wish they would continue to play at the Forum.

Manchester United continue to play with fire, losing 2-1 against Anderlecht.

In the meantime, the two opposing counsels continue to play a role that is unusually public.

At the Boma Ground stadium children continue to play football.

You have great teams and then it takes a while to continue to play at a pace that your fans like.

The same can not be said for Sharp who has continued to play well below anybody else on the team every game.

Robert Jenkins continues to play left tackle, as Harlow recovers from a nerve problem that affects his hip and back.

start

He started playing instruments at age 5, imitating his father, who was a proficient multi-instrumentalist.

If he starts playing with the keys attached to the back of their belts, they push him away.

One starts playing a harmonica, the others form a circle.

A string orchestra should have started to play an old-fashioned waltz.

The girls just started playing for real two weeks ago.

In one way I regret it, which is a reason why I think I should have started playing professionally later on.

I started playing blackjack, and I was winning all over the place-won eight hundred on one hand.

want

The better you get, the more you want to play .

What Ullman wants is to play every character in her imagination, at great personal sacrifice.

But von Steinholz wanted to play a waiting game and see where the trail led him.

Like I said, I always wanted to play here.

You get the feeling that if he wants to play the hard-assed producer, he can.

By junior high, she knew she wanted to play college ball.

You obviously have an interest in the world about you and want to play a part in preserving it.

The sources have said Johnston definitely needs surgery if he wants to play football again.

PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

a level playing field

act/play the goat

all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy)

fair play to sb

full-length play/book/film etc

How to turn a tightly compressed event into a full-length book?

have a part to play (in sth)

All of us have a part to play.

But literacy and the written word do have a part to play.

However, the latter have a part to play from the period of nursery rhymes and finger and other basic-activity games.

Look and Say does have a part to play.

Might farm schools have a part to play?

Models can be useful and have a part to play, if built on a sound theoretical basis.

Now I think that the woman lawyer has been foregrounded as if the law actually does have a part to play.

Now, many of the other items are also sound and have a part to play but they could be improved upon.

play (a game of) cat and mouse (with sb)

For the rest of the hunting season, the saboteurs will play a cat and mouse game with the huntsmen.

They played cat and mouse with the Bay, now scrambling for the outside, now sneaking back in.

play (merry) hell with sth

Ace's proximity was playing hell with her hormones.

Strangulation was all very well, but it played merry hell with the eyeballs.

play Cupid (to someone)

play a part

He was to go on to play a major part in the success of the new government.

It is not yet known if weather conditions played a part in the accident.

Many cases of breast cancer have genetic causes, but environmental substances may also play a part .

Of course, the pay played some part in my decision to take the job.

The genius of the two designers has played a big part in the company's recent success.

They've certainly worked very hard, but luck has played a part too.

But big-city gangsters also play a part .

Host factors such as transit time may also play a part .

Organisation during the visit can play a part .

Therefore all immunosuppressive factors can play a part .

This is just an actor playing a part .

We are delighted that the Victoria Art Gallery can play a part in this.

With regard to charging at the door, again fear must play part in her behaviour.

Yet here he was expecting to play a part that would make her hair stand on end.

play cupid

play dirty

I hate playing basketball with Bill - he always plays dirty .

Warren was willing to play dirty in order to get the job.

play fair

A mystery novel should play fair with the reader, providing all the clues necessary to solve the crime.

In international trade, very few countries play fair .

The film company says that it played fair in all its contract dealings with the actors' unions.

Bates, however, decided yesterday to play fair and own up about his mistress.

But ideally they should play fair and put their children's interests first.

But Wilson played fair - she did not encourage him.

I trust they play fair , but who knows?

Most also believe it is up to the government to ensure businesses do play fair .

No one who witnessed these debates has ever suggested that Lewis played fair .

Yet the private interests themselves were hardly playing fair .

play fetch

After that, they played fetch with a stick Master found.

play footsie (with sb)

And, even then, Morris played footsie with prominent Republicans, such as Sen.

But who will otherwise leave her undisturbed to play footsie with sweet Riva under the very nose of the current ben Issachar.

Fed up with playing footsie with your missus?

play games (with sb)

Many taxpayers try to play games on their tax returns.

We want an agreement. We're not interested in playing games .

At this Internet chess site, dozens of people around the world are playing games at the same time.

Do we suspect life is a chessboard even though we know that you don't play games ?

He plays no budgetary games nor does he tolerate finance people playing games with him.

If they want to play games with their parachutes, then that is their affair.

Surveys show millions of workers use their office computers to play games , surf the Net or worse.

That's just me playing games .

The people played games to pass the time during the winter too.

play hardball

It is clear that the company is ready to play hardball with the unions.

The Deputy Prime Minister told reporters that Canada was ready to play hardball with the US.

Toymaker Mattel is getting ready to play hardball in an effort to persuade Hasbro to reconsider a merger.

PITTSBURGHThe Steelers and Pirates found out voters can play hardball , too.

This is playing hardball , but it is hardball of a sort familiar in these dealings.

Well, we can play hardball , too.

play hooky

A boy playing hooky in Texas is not a criminal who is put away for study.

Abraham and MacGregor begin tasting that delicious sense of playing hooky from life, just like two big, naughty kids.

Maricela Roman will never forget the day her own 4-year-old ratted on her when she tried to play hooky .

play it cool

Traci insists that she is going to play it cool with Brad.

Plus, playing it cool ... the dark secrets of an orchid grower And, who said Robins could sing?

Rather than rushing into print in Nature, however, Cantor played it cool and cautious.

She was trying to play it cool .

The band had wanted a major deal for at least two years previously, but were determined to play it cool .

Tod's playing it cool , of course, as always.

play possum

Glover eased back in his chair and played possum .

play rough

And the Sabres were determined to play rough .

play sth by ear

As he has no political party that can provide him with practical support, he is forced to play it by ear .

At 2, he played the piano by ear .

But the government is having to play it by ear .

He heard jazz records at home when very young and played piano by ear .

So each played it by ear , with resulting policy shifts that often appeared to be not only sudden but incomprehensible.

Well, she would play it by ear .

play to the gallery

play truant

Billy was caught playing truant and has been given extra homework for a month.#

He'd played hooky again and ridden the train out to Brooklyn.#

play your cards right

If you play your cards right, you might get them to reduce the price.

Oh, no - she knew how to play her cards right.

The domino effect can work for us as well as against us if we play our cards right.

This could all turn out for the best if he played his cards right.

play/act the fool

Don't play the fool with me. You know why I moved away.

But the trouble with the picture is that it does absolutely nothing with its various prognostications except play the fool with them.

Dominic and Lee had been playing the fool as only young men can.

Don't go acting the fool , Carl.

He acted the fool , losing at first to whet their appetites, but in an hour emptied his three victims' purses.

He likes me to play the fool .

In class he never played the fool , never challenged the teacher.

Narouz had been angry, first with the girl for playing the fool and then with the eunuch for not finding her.

Those on the path of mastery are willing to take chances, play the fool ....

play/keep your cards close to your chest

play/star/appear etc opposite sb

sb's memory is playing tricks on them

sth is child's play

take/have/play no part in sth

Herrera, personally, took no part in this mild form of political persecution.

Johnny played no part in this world.

Of course, Laura took no part in such a major business decision; the empire builder was Bernard.

Schuster insists his political connections played no part in the choice.

The mostly white jurors who actually sat in the jury room, insisted that race had played no part in their decision.

The very act of imagining Gods exempt from suffering ensures that humans take no part in the deity.

They are evaluated and yet play no part in defining the criteria, determining the methods, or controlling the process.

This is not to say that economic imperatives play no part in penal developments.

the state of play

I can't comment on the state of play in the negotiations.

Depends, of course, on the state of play.

Gerry, what's the state of play?

Let me remind you of the state of play at that time.

That's the state of play in Milton Keynes where Labour lost four seats, and control.

turnabout is fair play

two can play at that game

violent film/play/drama

He thought of hitting Guy, saw himself doing it, like some violent film, slow-motion.

His nose was broken in two places by a player he had sent off for violent play.

They have a violent film then they have a violent advert.

well done!/well played!

when the cat's away (the mice will play)

work/play etc your butt off

He took a beating today but he played his butt off.

I had to give the ball up, and then I had work my butt off to get it back.

I work my butt off for you, while that restaurant is doing worse and worse.

I worked my butt off in basketball and stayed on the varsity-in fact, did well.

In short, I worked my butt off.

Meanwhile, Inspiral Carpets went in at grass roots level and worked their butts off in the clubs.

You could have worked your butt off helping a rep and you finally got the rep doing everything right.

EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

"They played well against us," Cooper said, "I have to give them credit."

Ask Alex if he wants to play .

Charles likes to play Celtic music on his flute.

Come on - let's go inside and play house!

Did you ever play doctors and nurses when you were small?

Do you play in an orchestra?

Do you know how to play backgammon?

Every Sunday we play Monopoly or some other board game.

I'm playing in a tennis match this Sunday.

I've only played chess a few times.

I played the ace of clubs and won the game.

I didn't know you could play the violin.

I have a recording of Kreisler playing Bach's E major concerto.

I used to play tennis all the time.

Ian was upstairs playing with his new train set.

It's been a long time since I played hockey.

Jimmy was playing with a little boat in the bathtub.

Karl loves basketball and plays almost every weekend.

Kendra's in her room playing.

Matt plays the drums.

EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS

Age-sensitive political issues such as Social Security and Medicare will play a major role in the campaign, of course.

Blake's composing and playing are, perhaps ironically, bristling with life.

In the Pittsburgh-Bills game, I have to like the way Buffalo is playing.

Relaxing music is played at the beginning of the float and again at the end to indicate your time is up.

She tried to teach him how to play the piano, but he had no great talent for it.

The neck feels solid and moderately chubby, although not immediately reminiscent of anything I've played before.

Your child can play all three goats and you the troll if there are just the two of you.

II. noun

COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS

■ ADJECTIVE

big

Mills makes big plays and is a very good runner after the catch.

Consequently, our club got a big play from any and all officer personnel on the base camp.

Except for one breakdown, San Diego refused to give up big plays , the Raiders' trademark so far.

He kept telling Johnson he was going to make big plays and score the winning shot.

He has made big plays at very important times.

The strategy stole the big play away from the Raiders, turning them into a ball-control team.

fair

Only in a secure Britain can we break down barriers and give people a real sense of fair play .

There are still people out there who teach and practice fair play , sportsmanship, and competition.

As a nation we pride ourselves on our strong sense of sportsmanship and fair play .

Aladdin was very good-natured and had a sense of fair play .

It was fair play , wasn't it, my lad, absolutely fair play.

In fact, the Globe favored public ownership but believed in fair play for the private interests.

great

The Minister made great play of environmental issues.

He had no idea what he was doing or why, but he made a great play anyway.

Sometimes, you make the great plays .

Spittals made great play of tapping the microphones and checking that they worked before he introduced the superintendent.

new

They had just one minute to pull us into a new reality and a new play .

But he became as well known for his work in new plays as for his Shakespeare.

She has no strategy to share, no new plays to run.

She had little or no reputation for doing the new plays then in vogue.

Well before it closed, Alvin was involved in rehearsals for two new plays .

The King's Men had to have a new play for a special day like that.

But the jitters and anxieties usually associated with a starring role in a new play are nowhere to be seen.

■ NOUN

area

Outside, there is a pool and children's play area .

Nets encase the play area for safety.

There's Sunsplash centre and the separate Oasis pool, both with shallow play areas .

The Devon Coast Holiday Park enjoys sea views and has a small children's play area .

Farm walks, picnic and play area , barn cafe and shop, teaching room.

Beautiful parkland with avenues and lakes; picnic area; gift shop; woodland play area .

nativity

At his first school, Stockwell Junior School, David dressed up for the first time in a school nativity play .

Recently he went to his children's school nativity play .

Already there are plans to put on nativity plays and join local children at a carol service.

This time he was putting his heart into playing an angel in a Nativity play at the local church.

power

It was a power play but it worked.

He has really helped out our power play .

Systems of knowledge, or anything else, are actually a power play , according to deconstructionists.

She didn't need that kind of rich man's power play and didn't appreciate it one bit.

Boston cut the deficit to 3-1 when right wing Sandy Moger scored on the power play for his sixth goal.

A romantic comedy, or power play , is enacted above.

Ray Sheppard scored what proved to be the game-winning goal on the power play at 11: 05 of the third period.

role

Discussion should take place regarding the learning methods, i.e. practical work, discussions, role play , tutorials and individual study.

Then role play that scene with others from the group.

We'd done this lots of times, role play , in Soc.

Alter each role play , have group members provide feedback on what the person did well and what aspects need improvement.

Then the role play can be pursued as in any of 1 to 3 above.

Units comprise discussion, reading, role play , writing assignment, vocabulary building, practice in points of grammar.

school

From childish disappointment when Anne's parents forget to attend the school play , to the adolescent discoveries in the town park.

So, I was enrolled in the Royal Academy, and got the lead in the school play .

The three wise men became three wise people in the school play - one of them a woman.

I did a drugs awareness sketch and got a small part in the school play which was Twelfth Night.

Once a year I attended the school play .

Introductions and commentaries by children on videos of school plays are also very effective.

If there is a school play try to appropriate as many costumes as possible at the end of it.

Rugby was played vigorously, music flourished, the school plays were of high quality.

■ VERB

bring

In so doing, this overrides the channel selector, bringing both channels into play at once.

Or could that most newly discovered of all scientific miracles, electricity, be brought into play ?

Indeed, it is not surprising that a member of this particular grammatical category should have been brought into play here.

Successive rounds of screening bring into play more criteria until the short list is reached.

Interrelated as these four issues undoubtedly are, they do each bring into play independent considerations.

It may have the means, but be unwilling or unable to bring them into play at a particular time.

Compression of this sort, practised more widely, might succeed in bringing the play over into a new medium.

come

But that's easier said than done when financial factors come into play .

Fourth, if speculators bet that the above factors will come into play .

But, in the privacy of the polling booth, cooler and more hard-headed calculations came into play .

Only after that does cost come into play in deciding whom to protect and at what level.

Judicial review may also come into play in the potentially fraught area of contracted-out services.

Mubsan is a legal concept; it comes into play in cases of adultery, where it can increase the penalty.

Here we see Bukharin's concept of equilibrium coming into play .

All of these things have come into play .

make

Kramer wondered if she was worth making a play for.

The Sonics, not the Rockets, have made the necessary plays for victory.

perform

Now, some children are performing plays with very different themes.

By his retirement in 1955 he had performed in over 200 plays .

There was a youth group being set up to perform a play which was about teenage gay men and lesbians and their experiences.

I got involved in that so that by mid-1977 I was performing in a play which was actually saying that I was gay.

If you think your acting is good enough, perform the play for your Pack.

The performed plays , and the acting, were in conscious competition for prizes.

The craftsmen of the local Guilds had been performing a play on the Feast of Corpus Christi for eighty years.

write

For the moment, he obviously has more urgent tasks than writing plays .

This beautifully written play is about universal human longing for love and happiness.

Will you write me another play ?

He had written a few plays in his early twenties; one of them had been produced off-off Broadway to good reviews.

He's written plays for Radio Four and Channel Four.

Previous studies Hamilton says that whoever wrote the will also wrote the play .

They are probably going to write another play based on my suggestions.

Look, writing for films is different than writing plays .

PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

(play) a/the waiting game

Although most people were relieved that the waiting game was over, the first days and nights were nerve-racking.

But von Steinholz wanted to play a waiting game and see where the trail led him.

Friday, and volunteer fireman Dave Papenfuss said it was purely a waiting game after that.

It was a waiting game now, she thought anxiously.

Lucy only wished that she could have more of the patience required to play a waiting game.

She had played a waiting game with great skill in the 1540s.

The Danley strike, like many others, was a waiting game and a numbers game.

Unfortunately, with work inhibition, the waiting game only ensures future problems.

a level playing field

all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy)

fair play to sb

full-length play/book/film etc

How to turn a tightly compressed event into a full-length book?

have a part to play (in sth)

All of us have a part to play.

But literacy and the written word do have a part to play.

However, the latter have a part to play from the period of nursery rhymes and finger and other basic-activity games.

Look and Say does have a part to play.

Might farm schools have a part to play?

Models can be useful and have a part to play, if built on a sound theoretical basis.

Now I think that the woman lawyer has been foregrounded as if the law actually does have a part to play.

Now, many of the other items are also sound and have a part to play but they could be improved upon.

level the playing field

play (a game of) cat and mouse (with sb)

For the rest of the hunting season, the saboteurs will play a cat and mouse game with the huntsmen.

They played cat and mouse with the Bay, now scrambling for the outside, now sneaking back in.

play (merry) hell with sth

Ace's proximity was playing hell with her hormones.

Strangulation was all very well, but it played merry hell with the eyeballs.

play Cupid (to someone)

play cupid

play dirty

I hate playing basketball with Bill - he always plays dirty .

Warren was willing to play dirty in order to get the job.

play fair

A mystery novel should play fair with the reader, providing all the clues necessary to solve the crime.

In international trade, very few countries play fair .

The film company says that it played fair in all its contract dealings with the actors' unions.

Bates, however, decided yesterday to play fair and own up about his mistress.

But ideally they should play fair and put their children's interests first.

But Wilson played fair - she did not encourage him.

I trust they play fair , but who knows?

Most also believe it is up to the government to ensure businesses do play fair .

No one who witnessed these debates has ever suggested that Lewis played fair .

Yet the private interests themselves were hardly playing fair .

play fetch

After that, they played fetch with a stick Master found.

play footsie (with sb)

And, even then, Morris played footsie with prominent Republicans, such as Sen.

But who will otherwise leave her undisturbed to play footsie with sweet Riva under the very nose of the current ben Issachar.

Fed up with playing footsie with your missus?

play games (with sb)

Many taxpayers try to play games on their tax returns.

We want an agreement. We're not interested in playing games .

At this Internet chess site, dozens of people around the world are playing games at the same time.

Do we suspect life is a chessboard even though we know that you don't play games ?

He plays no budgetary games nor does he tolerate finance people playing games with him.

If they want to play games with their parachutes, then that is their affair.

Surveys show millions of workers use their office computers to play games , surf the Net or worse.

That's just me playing games .

The people played games to pass the time during the winter too.

play hardball

It is clear that the company is ready to play hardball with the unions.

The Deputy Prime Minister told reporters that Canada was ready to play hardball with the US.

Toymaker Mattel is getting ready to play hardball in an effort to persuade Hasbro to reconsider a merger.

PITTSBURGHThe Steelers and Pirates found out voters can play hardball , too.

This is playing hardball , but it is hardball of a sort familiar in these dealings.

Well, we can play hardball , too.

play hooky

A boy playing hooky in Texas is not a criminal who is put away for study.

Abraham and MacGregor begin tasting that delicious sense of playing hooky from life, just like two big, naughty kids.

Maricela Roman will never forget the day her own 4-year-old ratted on her when she tried to play hooky .

play it cool

Traci insists that she is going to play it cool with Brad.

Plus, playing it cool ... the dark secrets of an orchid grower And, who said Robins could sing?

Rather than rushing into print in Nature, however, Cantor played it cool and cautious.

She was trying to play it cool .

The band had wanted a major deal for at least two years previously, but were determined to play it cool .

Tod's playing it cool , of course, as always.

play possum

Glover eased back in his chair and played possum .

play rough

And the Sabres were determined to play rough .

play sth by ear

As he has no political party that can provide him with practical support, he is forced to play it by ear .

At 2, he played the piano by ear .

But the government is having to play it by ear .

He heard jazz records at home when very young and played piano by ear .

So each played it by ear , with resulting policy shifts that often appeared to be not only sudden but incomprehensible.

Well, she would play it by ear .

play to the gallery

play truant

Billy was caught playing truant and has been given extra homework for a month.#

He'd played hooky again and ridden the train out to Brooklyn.#

play your cards right

If you play your cards right, you might get them to reduce the price.

Oh, no - she knew how to play her cards right.

The domino effect can work for us as well as against us if we play our cards right.

This could all turn out for the best if he played his cards right.

play/act the fool

Don't play the fool with me. You know why I moved away.

But the trouble with the picture is that it does absolutely nothing with its various prognostications except play the fool with them.

Dominic and Lee had been playing the fool as only young men can.

Don't go acting the fool , Carl.

He acted the fool , losing at first to whet their appetites, but in an hour emptied his three victims' purses.

He likes me to play the fool .

In class he never played the fool , never challenged the teacher.

Narouz had been angry, first with the girl for playing the fool and then with the eunuch for not finding her.

Those on the path of mastery are willing to take chances, play the fool ....

play/keep your cards close to your chest

play/star/appear etc opposite sb

sth is child's play

take/have/play no part in sth

Herrera, personally, took no part in this mild form of political persecution.

Johnny played no part in this world.

Of course, Laura took no part in such a major business decision; the empire builder was Bernard.

Schuster insists his political connections played no part in the choice.

The mostly white jurors who actually sat in the jury room, insisted that race had played no part in their decision.

The very act of imagining Gods exempt from suffering ensures that humans take no part in the deity.

They are evaluated and yet play no part in defining the criteria, determining the methods, or controlling the process.

This is not to say that economic imperatives play no part in penal developments.

the state of play

I can't comment on the state of play in the negotiations.

Depends, of course, on the state of play.

Gerry, what's the state of play?

Let me remind you of the state of play at that time.

That's the state of play in Milton Keynes where Labour lost four seats, and control.

turnabout is fair play

two can play at that game

violent film/play/drama

He thought of hitting Guy, saw himself doing it, like some violent film, slow-motion.

His nose was broken in two places by a player he had sent off for violent play.

They have a violent film then they have a violent advert.

well done!/well played!

when the cat's away (the mice will play)

work/play etc your butt off

He took a beating today but he played his butt off.

I had to give the ball up, and then I had work my butt off to get it back.

I work my butt off for you, while that restaurant is doing worse and worse.

I worked my butt off in basketball and stayed on the varsity-in fact, did well.

In short, I worked my butt off.

Meanwhile, Inspiral Carpets went in at grass roots level and worked their butts off in the clubs.

You could have worked your butt off helping a rep and you finally got the rep doing everything right.

EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

"Pygmalion" was one of Shaw's most famous plays.

On the next play , Ervin caught a forty-yard pass to score a touchdown.

Parents need to understand the importance of play in a child's development.

The play is about two men on trial for murder.

There's a huge difference in the level of play from college to the NFL.

There needs to be a little more play in the fan belt for it to work right.

EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS

After Troilus and Cressida almost any play is a relief, even the brothel scenes of Pericles.

Episodes are based on dialogues, role play and cloze exercises, with the emphasis on building awareness of language appropriateness.

He chose to do this by re-writing the scene in the form of a script for a play .

His doubts only increased when he performed another job, midway to finally making up his mind about the Bolt play .

Make enough plays like that and nobody in the clubhouse will care if you ever say a word.

These characters can be used to start play very quickly, saving time for eager players!

This brings into play an area of training known as free sparring.

Longman DOCE5 Extras English vocabulary.      Дополнительный английский словарь Longman DOCE5.