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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

play along en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To take part in a charade, deception, or practical joke.
    • James thought it was cruel for the fraternity members to make the pledge think his father had died suddenly and refused to play along.
    • North Korea loves to spring surprises. More unusual is for its US foe to play along. 29 February 2012, Aidan Foster-Carter, BBC News North Korea: The denuclearisation dance resumeshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17213948
    • James played along with their cruel trick.
  2. (idiomatic) To participate in a joke or trick while hiding one's knowledge of its true nature.
    • I knew that my blind date was an April Fools trick, but I played along anyway.
  3. (idiomatic) To play a musical instrument in synchrony with a playback of a recording.
    • I like to practise guitar by playing along with records.
  4. (US, idiomatic) To cooperate or go along with a plan.
    • I have doubts about your plan, but I'll play along for now.
  5. (US, idiomatic) To pretend to cooperate or go along with a plan.
    • I haven't told him yet, I'm still playing along with his scheme.
  6. (UK, idiomatic) To manipulate (someone).
    • The con man plays his victims along until he senses the moment to ask for money.
  7. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, along.
    • The children spent the day playing along the river.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
plays along Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
playing along Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
played along Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
played along Tense=Past lexicographic

Relateds

play dumb

Translations (8)

pl udawać głupiego (hide one's knowledge of a joke) · sv spela spelet (hide one's knowledge of a joke) · it stare al gioco (hide one's knowledge of a joke) · ru подыгрывать (hide one's knowledge of a joke) · es seguir el juego (hide one's knowledge of a joke) · de mitspielen (hide one's knowledge of a joke) · es seguir la corriente (hide one's knowledge of a joke) · sv spela med (hide one's knowledge of a joke)