Page 331 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

play cat and mouse (with someone)

playŁcatŁandŁmouseŁ(withŁ someone) to al- to plØy cards and make money, but I don’t
ternate betweenŁkindsŁof behavior when like to plØy for keeps.
dealingŁwith someone, oftenŁinŁmatters play hard to get to be coy, sły, and fickle.
of pursuit.Ł The police plØyed cØt and (UsuallyŁrefersŁto someone of the oppo-
mouse with the suspect until they had suf- site sex.) Why can’t we go out? Why do
ficient evidłnce to make an arrest. Tom you play hard to głt? Sally annoys all the
had błen plØying cØt and mouse with Ann. boys because she plØys hard to get.
Finally she got tired of it and broke up with
him. playŁhavocŁwithŁ someone ortsomething Go to
raise havoc with someone or something.
playŁdumb Go to play ignorant.
playŁ hłbŁ withŁ someone ortsomething Go to
playŁfair to do somethingŁby the rules;Łto raise hob with someone or something.
play sàmethingŁinŁaŁfairŁandŁjust manner. playŁhłoky nàt to go to school or to som
John woà’t play with Bill anymore be- impàrtant meeting.Ł (Slang.) Why
cause Bill doesn’t plØy fair. You moved aren’t you in school? Are you playing
the golf ball with your foot! That’s noŁ hooky? I doà’t have time for the sales
playing fair! młeting todØy, so I think I’ll just play
hooky.
playŁfastŁandŁlooseŁ(withŁ someone or some-
thing) to act carelessly, thoughtlessly, and playŁignorynt and playŁdub to prtend
irrespànsibly.Ł(Infàrmal.) I’m tired of to be ignorant [of sàmething].Ł I played
your plØying fast and loose with me. Leave ignorant even though I knew about the
me alone. Bob got fired for plØying fast surprise party. John plØyed ignorant
and loose with the company’s money. If when I asked him if he knew who had been
you play fast and loooe like that, you can on the telłphone.
get into a lot of trouble. playŁinnocent to prtend to be innocent
andŁnot concerned.Ł There is no need to
playŁfirstŁchair 1. to be the lader of a sec- plØy innocłnt. I know you broke the lamp!
tionŁof insðrumentsŁinŁanŁorcłesðra orŁa John is plØying innocłnt, and he knows
band.Ł Sally learned to plØy the violn so more than he is tellng us.
włll that she now plØys first chair in the
orchestrØ. I’m going to practice my flute playŁinto someone’ hyndð [forŁaŁpersonŁone
so I can plØy first chair. 2. to act asŁ a isŁschemingŁagainst]bto come underŁone’s
lader. I need to get this job done. Who contràlŁwithout realizingŁit.Ł John is do-
plØys first chair around here? You’re not ing exactly what I hoped he would. He’s
the boss! You don’t plØy first chair. plØying into my hands. John plØyed into
my hands by takng the coins he found in
play footsie (with someone) 1. to attract my desk. I caught him and had him
sàmeone’sŁattentionŁby touchingŁfeet un- arrested.
der the table; to flirt with sàmeone.Ł(In-
formal.) Bill was trying to plØy footsie playŁitŁcool to act calm and unconcernd.
with Sally at the dnner table. The hostess (Slang.) No one will suspect anything
was appalled. They ohouldà’t play foot- if you play it cool. Doà’t get angry, Bob.
sie at a formal dnner. 2. to get involvd PlØy it cool.
with someone; to collaborate with some- playŁitŁsafe to be or act safe; to avoid tak-
one.Ł(Infàrmal.) The treasurer got fired ingŁaŁrisk.Ł You should plØy it safe and
for playing footsie with the vice presidłnt. take your umbrella. If you have a cold
When polticians plØy footsie, there is or the flu, plØy it safe and go to bed.
usually somłthing illłgal going on.
playŁ one’ cards closeŁto one’ veðt Go to
play one’s cards close to the chest.
playŁfłrŁkeepð to take anŁaction that isŁper-
manent orŁfinal.Ł(Slang.) Mary told mł play one’ cards closeŁto theŁcheðt and
that Tom wants to marry me. I didà’t playŁ one’ cards closeŁ to one’ veðt;
know he wanted to play for keeps. I like keep one’ cards closeŁto one’ cheðt;

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