play1 /pleɪ/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 1 children 儿童 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]DGO when children play, they do things that they enjoy, often with other people or with toys 玩,玩耍 Kids were playing and chasing each other. 孩子们在互相追逐嬉闹。
play catch/house/tag/school etc Outside, the children were playing cowboys and Indians. 孩子们在外面玩牛仔和印第安人的游戏。
play with Did you like to play with dolls when you were little? 你小时候喜不喜欢玩洋娃娃?
Parents need to spend time just playing with their children. 父母应该花时间和自己的孩子一起玩耍。
2 sports/games 运动/比赛 a) [intransitiveI, transitiveT]PLAY A GAME OR SPORT to take part or compete in a game or sport 参赛,参加〔比赛或运动〕 Karen began playing basketball when she was six. 卡伦六岁时开始打篮球。
If you feel any pain, you shouldn’t play. 如果你觉得疼,就不该参赛。
Men were sitting in the park, playing cards. 男人们坐在公园里打牌。
play against Bristol will play against Coventry next week. 下周布里斯托尔队将迎战考文垂队。
She’s playing Helen Evans in the semi-final (=playing against her). 半决赛中她将迎战海伦·埃文斯。
play for Moxon played for England in ten test matches. 莫克森代表英格兰队参加过十场国际板球对抗赛决赛阶段比赛。
b) [transitiveT] to use a particular piece, card, person etc in a game or sport 〔比赛中〕走〔子〕;出〔牌〕;派〔某人〕出场 Harrison played a ten of spades. 哈里森出了一张黑桃十。
The Regents played Eddie at center (=used him as a player in that position) in the game against Arizona. 在和亚利桑那州立大学队的比赛中,理真大学队派埃迪上场担任中锋。
c) [intransitiveI, transitiveT] to take a particular position on a team 〔在某运动队中〕担当,充任 Garvey played first base for the Dodgers. 加维在道奇队中打一垒。
d) [transitiveT] to hit a ball in a particular way or to a particular place in a game or sport 〔在比赛或运动中〕击〔球〕,打〔球〕 She played the ball low, just over the net. 她把球打得很低,刚刚过网。
3 music 音乐 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]PERFORMto perform a piece of music on a musical instrument 演奏,弹奏 He’s learning to play the piano. 他在学习弹钢琴。
She played a Bach prelude. 她演奏了一首巴赫的前奏曲。
Haden has played with many jazz greats. 黑登和许多著名的爵士乐手合作过。
A small orchestra was playing. 一支小型管弦乐队在演奏。
4 radio/cd etc 广播/激光唱片等 [intransitiveI, transitiveT] if a radio, CD etc plays, or if you play it, it produces sound, especially music 播放 The bedside radio played softly. 床边的收音机播放着轻柔的乐曲。
play a record/CD/tape etc DJs playing the latest house and techno tracks 播放着最新豪斯音乐和泰克诺音乐的音乐节目主持人们
5 theatre/film 剧院/电影 a) [transitiveT]APT to perform the actions and say the words of a particular character in a theatre performance, film etc 扮演〔角色〕 Streep plays a shy, nervous woman. 斯特里普扮演一个腼腆、神经质的女人。
play a role/part/character etc Playing a character so different from herself was a challenge. 扮演一个和她本人如此不同的角色是个挑战。
b) [intransitiveI]APTPERFORM if a play or film is playing at a particular theatre, it is being performed or shown there 〔戏剧〕上演;〔电影〕上映 ‘Macbeth’ is playing at the Theatre Royal in York. 《麦克白》正在约克的皇家剧院上演。
c) [transitiveT]APTPERFORM if actors play a theatre, they perform there in a play 〔演员〕在〔剧院〕演出 6 play a part/role EFFECT/INFLUENCEto have an effect or influence on something 〔在某事中〕起作用;〔在某事中〕有影响play a part/role in A good diet and fitness play a large part in helping people live longer. 合理的饮食和良好的健康状况在对人们寿命的延长起着重要作用。
7 play ball a) to throw, kick, hit, or catch a ball as a game or activity 玩球类游戏 Jim and Karl were playing ball in the backyard. 吉姆和卡尔在后院玩球。
b) to do what someone wants you to do 听命 So far, the company has refused to play ball, preferring to remain independent. 这家公司至今不愿当傀儡,更希望保持独立。
8 pretend 假装 [linking verb]BEHAVE to behave as if you are a particular kind of person or have a particular feeling or quality, even though it is not true 假装,装扮 the accusation that scientists are playing God 对科学家扮演上帝的指责
Some snakes fool predators by playing dead. 有些蛇会以装死来蒙骗猎食者。
‘What do you mean?’ ‘Don’t play dumb (=pretend you do not know something).' “你什么意思?”“别装糊涂了。”
Don’t play the innocent (=pretend you do not know about something) with me – we both know what happened. 别跟我装无辜,你我都知道出了什么事。
play the idiot/the teacher etc Susan felt she had to play the good wife. 苏珊觉得自己必须扮成好妻子。
He played the fool (=behaved in a silly way) at school instead of working. 他在学校瞎混而不用功学习。
9 behave 表现 [transitiveT always + adverbadv/prepositionprep]BEHAVE to behave in a particular way in a situation, in order to achieve the result or effect that you want 〔以某种方式〕表现,行事 How do you want to play this meeting? 你想怎么开这次会议?
Play it safe (=avoid risks) and make sure the eggs are thoroughly cooked. 保险一点,一定要把这些蛋煮透。
play it carefully/cool etc If you like him, play it cool, or you might scare him off. 你要是喜欢他,就别露声色,否则可能会把他吓跑。
10 play games HIDE/NOT SHOWto hide your real feelings or wishes in order to achieve something in a clever or secret way – used to show disapproval 耍花招,耍手段〔含贬义〕 Stop playing games, Luke, and tell me what you want. 别耍花招了,卢克,告诉我你想要什么。
play games• Don't waste time by playing games.• The Dauphin was showing Henry that he was just a stupid kid who should still be playing games.• I don't play games at all!• But Symington and the Legislature are simply playing games here.• Just going out to resupply some patrols on a secure road was so bland that we played games to make it interesting.• As a child she preferred playing games with boys to dressing up dolls.• If they want to play games with their parachutes, then that is their affair.• They can only create challenges for themselves, play games within the games. 11 play something by ear play something 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.• Well, she would play it by ear.• So each played it by ear, with resulting policy shifts that often appeared to be not only sudden but incomprehensible.
12. play a joke/trick/prank on somebody JOKEto do something to someone as a joke or trick 跟某人开玩笑,捉弄某人play a joke/trick/prank on somebody• He had always played tricks on her.• Her brain had to be playing tricks on her.• Jack felt edgy but convinced himself that his nerves were playing tricks on him.• Somewhat perturbed, Ted flung the door open still believing that the platelayers were playing tricks on him.• In one of them, a man named Wakefield decides to play a joke on his wife.• Yes, fate was playing tricks on me.• They delight in playing tricks on mortals, though they will cease to give trouble if politely requested to do so.• It allowed me to detect instances when time played tricks on the memory of some of the respondents. 13 play the game a) to do things in the way you are expected to do them or in a way that is usual in a particular situation 遵守规则,按规矩行事 If you want a promotion, you’ve got to play the game. 如果你想得到晋升,就要规规矩矩的。
play the game• Diillon won't get promoted if he's not willing to play the game.• Last year three hundred and sixty pupils were injured from three thousand schools who regularly play the game.• Most manufacturers have played the game.• Until that point we were really just playing the game.• We assume to start with that the weighted patterns provide a rough guide to playing the game.• He thought he was playing the game again.• Just like playing the game itself, it seems.• I know how to play the game myself.• While online, the user could play the game, which would be stored in short-term memory. 14 play the race/nationalist/environmentalist etc card to use a particular subject in politics in order to gain an advantage 打种族/民族主义/环保主义等的牌〔指使用某个政治话题来赢得优势〕 a leader who is skilfully playing the nationalist card to keep power 老练地打出民族主义牌以保持权力的一名领导人
play the race/nationalist/environmentalist etc card• Mugabe now plays the race card.• It will give the various groups and Tory Members who seek to play the race card the opportunity to do so. 15 play your cards right SUCCEED IN DOING somethingto say or do things in a situation in such a way that you gain as much as possible from it 做事精明,处理得当 Who knows? If you play your cards right, maybe he’ll marry you. 谁知道呢?如果你精明些,说不定他会娶你呢。
play your cards right• 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.
16. play your cards close to your chest to keep secret what you are doing in a situation 对自己的行为秘而不宣 17 play into somebody’s hands to do what someone you are competing with wants you to do, without realizing it 〔因做对手所希望的事〕正中对手下怀 If we respond with violence, we’ll be playing into their hands, giving them an excuse for a fight. 如果我们以暴力回应,就正中他们下怀,给了他们挑起争斗的借口。
play into somebody’s hands• And what good you, you silly fool, playing into my hands like this?• Whatever he did would play into the hands of Isambard, whose traps were always dual, and could not be evaded.• We should be careful not to play into the hands of murderers.• Such action, I believed - and still believe - would have played into the hands of my enemies.• This, the futures industry frets, would play into the hands of Rep.• It plays into the hands of the opposition.• It would be playing into his hands to react to his deliberate teasing. 18 play for time DELAYto try to delay something so that you have more time to prepare for it or prevent it from happening 为争取时间而拖延 The rebels may be playing for time while they try to get more weapons. 叛乱分子可能在拖延时间,想搞到更多的武器。
19 play tricks (on you) if your mind, memory, sight etc plays tricks on you, you feel confused and not sure about what is happening 〔头脑、记忆、视力等〕使(某人)产生错觉 It happened a long time ago, and my memory might be playing tricks on me. 那是很久以前的事了,我记不清了。
play tricks (on you)• He had always played tricks on her.• Her brain had to be playing tricks on her.• Jack felt edgy but convinced himself that his nerves were playing tricks on him.• Somewhat perturbed, Ted flung the door open still believing that the platelayers were playing tricks on him.• Yes, fate was playing tricks on me.• They delight in playing tricks on mortals, though they will cease to give trouble if politely requested to do so.• It allowed me to detect instances when time played tricks on the memory of some of the respondents.• He knew, too, that his head had been aching and that his mind was capable of playing tricks upon him. 20. play the market BFSRISKto risk money on the stock market as a way of trying to earn more money 〔在证券市场〕买卖证券 21 play the system ADVANTAGEto use the rules of a system in a clever way, to gain advantage for yourself 钻制度的空子〔使自己得益〕 Accountants know how to play the tax system. 会计师知道如何钻税收制度的空子。
play the system• Accountants know how to play the tax system. 22. play second fiddle (to somebody) (also play second banana informal)IMPORTANT to be in a lower position or rank than someone else (给某人)当第二把手[副手],居次要地位play second fiddle (to somebody)• Mr Pozsgay was simply fed up with playing second fiddle, a characteristic that was to re-emerge later.• Even the lyrics tend to play second fiddle and are generally added after the main melody has been composed.• He was never more than a B-movie actor, playing second fiddle to actors like Errol Flynn.• He had been a reluctant ally and may well have resented playing second fiddle to his younger brother.• The locals were not satisfied playing second fiddle to Los Angeles.• But putts and drives will play second fiddle to schmoozing when top sports celebrities take center stage at the golf club.• Throughout her married life she had to play second fiddle to the interests of her husband.• She might also have simply got tired of playing second fiddle to the Prince's pastimes.• So often he has played second fiddle to Wright and notched only nine goals last season to his partner's 30. 23. play hard to get PRETENDATTRACTto pretend that you are not sexually interested in someone so that they will become more interested in you 〔对异性〕欲擒故纵〔故意装出对某人不感兴趣的样子以吸引对方〕play hard to get• You should call her again - I think she's just playing hard to get.• And they may not just be playing hard to get.• I am not going to suggest that you play hard to get.• If it was Viola, she was obviously playing hard to get.• It had nothing to do with teasing or playing hard to get. 24. smile 笑容 [intransitiveI always + adverbadv/prepositionprep] writtenSMILE if a smile plays about someone’s lips, they smile slightly 〔微笑〕浮现 25. play hooky American EnglishAmE, play truant British EnglishSE to stay away from school without permission 逃学,旷课play hooky• Maricela Roman will never forget the day her own 4-year-old ratted on her when she tried to play hooky.• Abraham and MacGregor begin tasting that delicious sense of playing hooky from life, just like two big, naughty kids.• A boy playing hooky in Texas is not a criminal who is put away for study.
26 play with fire DANGEROUSto do something that could have a very dangerous or harmful result 做危险的事,玩火 Dating the boss’s daughter is playing with fire. 和老板的女儿约会是在玩火。
play with fire• Dating the boss's daughter is playing with fire.• The mask made him seem menacing, and she suddenly had the sensation that with Lucenzo she was playing with fire.• Failure to stick to the safety rules is simply playing with fire.• These men are criminals. If you get involved with them, you'll be playing with fire.• Charity stunt team warned ... you're playing with fire.• Roy Alon who appeared in many of the James Bond films said the team were playing with fire.• Sir Hugo advises Deronda not to play with fire.• So, your employer is playing with fire.• With Emma he had played with fire and narrowly escaped burning.• She was playing with fire, in Lydia's opinion.• Manchester United continue to play with fire, losing 2-1 against Anderlecht. 27 play to your strengths to do what you are able to do well, rather than trying to do other things 发挥自己的长处,拿出自己的优势 It is up to us to play to our strengths and try to control the game. 要靠我们发挥自己的优势,尽力控制比赛。
28 light 光线 [intransitiveI always + adverbadv/prepositionprep] writtenSHINE if light plays on something, it shines on it and moves on it 〔在…上〕闪烁,掠过 the sunlight playing on the water 在水面闪烁的阳光
29. water 水 [intransitiveI] written if a fountain plays, water comes from it 〔喷泉〕喷水 30. play a hose/light on something MOVE something OR somebodyto point a hose or light towards something so that water or light goes onto it 把软管/光线对准某处 31. play the field SEX/HAVE SEX WITHto have sexual relationships with a lot of different people 乱搞男女关系,滥交play the field• Better chance to play the field.• Perhaps because he plays the field.• He gave up playing the field and married a year ago, to a sinewy woman called Cheryl Berkoff.• So she had played the field, enjoying male company without getting in too deep or too seriously. 32 play fast and loose with something to not be careful about what you do, especially by not obeying the law or a rule 不负责任地利用某物〔尤指不遵守法律或规定〕 They played fast and loose with investors’ money. 他们滥用了投资者的资金。
play fast and loose with something• They probably see it as a place where government plays fast and loose with tax dollars.• And there is his willingness to play fast and loose with the facts.• Besides, it is playing fast and loose with the statistics to take 1981 as the baseline for the Government's claims.• To say that the Wattersons had played fast and loose with their investors' capital was an understatement.• In what follows, I shall play fast and loose with these words and the subtle distinctions between them. 33. play happy families British EnglishBrE to spend time with your family, doing normal things, especially so that your family appears to be happy when it is not 维持幸福家庭的假象 34 play around (also play about British English) phrasal verbphr v a) SEX/HAVE SEX WITHto have a sexual relationship with someone who is not your usual partner 与〔某人〕鬼混 with Wasn’t she playing around with another man? 她当时不是在和另一个男人鬼混吗?
It was years before I realized he’d been playing around. 多年以后我才察觉到他一直在拈花惹草。
b) to try doing something in different ways, to see what would be best, especially when this is fun 摆弄,把玩〔尤指好玩〕 with Play around with the ingredients if you like. 如果你喜欢,可以随意搭配各种原料。
c) to behave in a silly way or waste time, when you should be doing something more serious 胡闹 SYN fool around When the teacher wasn’t looking, we used to play about a lot. 老师不看着我们时,我们经常会瞎胡闹。
play with• Why were men able to play around with any sort of drab?• He played around with both boys and girls and he was capable of uncontrolled violence.• But generally they enjoy themselves and they play around with inventions and machines like nobody's business.• But Uncle liked to play around with it.• It is bad to play around with other people's wives and bad also to spy on President Amin.• She encourages customers to play around with samples so they feel they are helping to design their own rooms.• This can be corrected either in Photoshop or by simply playing around with the white balance.• But it wasn't really such a leap from paintings of riders to pictures of top-hatted toffs playing around with tousled tarts.
35 play around with something (also play about with something British English) phrasal verbphr v to keep moving or making changes to something in your hands 〔在手中〕摆弄,把玩 SYN fiddle with Will you stop playing around with the remote control! 你能不能别再摆弄遥控器了!
36 play along phrasal verbphr v a) PRETENDto pretend to agree to do what someone wants, in order to avoid annoying them or to get an advantage 假装顺从,暂且附和 She felt she had to play along or risk losing her job. 她觉得自己必须假装顺从,否则就有失业的危险。
b) play somebody along British EnglishBrELIE/TELL A LIE to tell someone something that is not true because you need their help in some way 〔因为需要某人的帮助而〕对某人撒谎,欺骗某人 37 play at something phrasal verbphr v a) What is somebody playing at?DO British EnglishBrE spoken used when you do not understand what someone is doing or why they are doing it, and you are surprised or annoyed 某人在搞什么鬼? What do you think you’re playing at? 你到底在搞什么名堂?
b) DO BADLYif you play at doing something, you do not do it properly or seriously 不认真地干,对…敷衍了事play at doing something He’s still playing at being an artist. 他对于当艺术家仍然三心二意。
c) PRETEND British EnglishBrE if children play at doctors, soldiers etc, they pretend to be doctors, soldiers etc 〔小孩〕假扮…玩play at being something a 14-year-old playing at being a grown woman 假扮成年女性的14岁少女
play at doing something• But most nights, he gets only a few minutes, or may not play at all.• By the time they finally play at home, everyone else will have long since had their home openers.• Craig, who started in John Osborne plays at the Royal Court, reminds us what an excellent actor she is.• Darlington ladies held Boston well away from home and on the two rinks who played at the Morrison Centre.• Deciding whether home-school students could choose to play at any public school or only the one in their attendance district.• He had to learn his words, of course - perhaps for six different plays at the same time.• It also gave Catholic a chance for its first bus ride to a game when it plays at Widener.• The limp tunes appear to be played at the wrong speed, stretching them out until they become transparent and meaningless.
38 play something ↔ back phrasal verbphr v TCRto play something that has been recorded on a machine so that you can listen to it or watch it 回放〔已录制的录音带、录像带等〕 He played back his answering machine messages. 他回放了电话答录机中的留言。
39 play something ↔ down phrasal verbphr v UNIMPORTANTto try to make something seem less important or less likely than it really is 使…看起来不那么重要,贬低,对…轻描淡写 Management has been playing down the possibility of job losses. 管理层一直淡化职位减少的可能性。
play down the importance/seriousness/significance of something The White House spokeswoman sought to play down the significance of the event. 白宫女发言人试图淡化该事件的重要性。
play down• He's always playing himself down.• Miss Verjec blew her whistle and walked angrily towards those who had stopped playing and fallen down.• Odom, 26, did not play a down last season and retired last month.• Peter: Usually play football down the street, play footy.• The real surprise is that they played so badly down the stretch in both games and still managed to win.• I played well down the stretch.• The play settled down with its new cast.• Not the whiff of scandal; we played that down, wrongly, as it turned out. play down the importance/seriousness/significance of something• As a corollary, AI-workers have tended to play down the importance of neurophysiological knowledge about the brain.• At a New York conference this week Mr Murdoch tried to play down the significance of the deal.• Perhaps it was good that Hooper did not take Charles's kindness, but instead played down the significance of the incident.• The first reaction from the Tour organisers was to play down the significance of Voet's arrest. 40 play off phrasal verbphr v a) British EnglishBrE if people or teams play off, they play the last game in a sports competition, in order to decide who is the winner 决胜负 The top two teams will play off at Twickenham for the county title. 成绩最好的两支球队将在维克汉姆体育场为争夺郡冠军一决雌雄。
b) play off somebody/something American EnglishAmE to deliberately use a fact, action, idea etc in order to make what you are doing better or to get an advantage 故意压制某人/某物 The two musicians played off each other in a piece of inspired improvisation. 两位乐师在表演一首精彩的即兴曲时争强斗胜。
41 play somebody off against somebody phrasal verbphr v ARGUEto encourage one person or group to compete or argue with another, in order to get some advantage for yourself 〔为渔利而〕挑拨离间,使…相斗[对立,争吵] The house seller may try to play one buyer off against another, to raise the price. 房子的卖家可能会在两位买主之间挑拨,目的是为了抬高房价。
42 play on/upon something phrasal verbphr v USE somethingto use a feeling, fact, or idea in order to get what you want, often in an unfair way 利用〔某一感情、事实或观点〕 The ad plays on our emotions, showing a doctor holding a newborn baby. 广告中一名医生抱着一个新生婴儿,那是在利用我们的情感。
43 play something ↔ out phrasal verbphr v a) if an event or situation is played out or plays itself out, it happens 发生;出现 It will be interesting to see how the election plays itself out. 观看选举如何进行会很有意思。
b) PERFORMif people play out their dreams, feelings etc, they express them by pretending that a particular situation is really happening 想入非非 The weekend gives you a chance to play out your fantasies. 周末让你有机会去想入非非。
44 play up phrasal verbphr v a) play something ↔ upEMPHASIZE to emphasize something, sometimes making it seem more important than it really is 强调某事的重要性;夸大某事;大肆渲染某事 Play up your strongest arguments in the opening paragraph. 第一段中就要突出最强有力的论据。
b) play (somebody) upBEHAVE British EnglishBrE informal if children play up, they behave badly 〔孩子〕捣蛋;使(某人)恼火,给(某人)制造麻烦 Jordan’s been playing up in school. 乔丹在学校里老是惹麻烦。
I hope the kids don’t play you up. 我希望孩子们不会给你添麻烦。
c) play (somebody) upHURT/CAUSE PAIN British EnglishBrE informal to hurt you or cause problems for you 使〔某人〕感到痛苦;给〔某人〕造成麻烦 My knee’s been playing me up this week. 这星期我的膝盖一直不舒服。
The car’s playing up again. 车子又出问题了。
45 play up to somebody phrasal verbphr v to behave in a very polite or kind way to someone because you want something from them 投〔某人〕所好,逢迎,讨好,巴结 Connie always plays up to her parents when she wants money. 康妮缺钱的时候总会去讨好父母。
play up to • You were quite good, playing up to the hicks. 46 play with somebody/something phrasal verbphr v a) HOLDto keep touching something or moving it 摆弄,玩弄 Stop playing with the light switch! 别再乱动电灯开关了!
b) to try doing something in different ways to decide what works best 试验〔以找出解决问题的最佳方式〕 Play with the design onscreen, moving text and pictures until you get a pleasing arrangement. 试着在屏幕上进行设计,移动文字和图片,直到排列令人满意为止。
c) THINK ABOUTto consider an idea or possibility, but not always very seriously 〔不大认真地〕考虑〔某事〕 SYN toy with After university, I played with the idea of teaching English in China. 大学毕业以后,我想过去中国教英语。
d) MORE/EXTRA money/time/space etc to play with money, time etc that is available to be used 可用的金钱/时间/空间等 The budget is very tight, so there isn’t much money to play with. 经费很紧,没有很多钱可用。
f) play with words/languageSAY to use words in a clever or amusing way 玩文字游戏;用字遣词机智[幽默] money/time/space etc to play with• He had time for his garden, time to talk to his Stratford friends, time to play with his granddaughter Elizabeth.• Lennie knows he hasn't any time to play with if Boro are to stay in the big time.• Then it's time to play with the topper dinghies! play with words/language• Children learn vocabulary from talking, reading, writing, and from playing with words.• Rhymesters, poets, writers, and jokers of all kinds - and their audiences - have always loved playing with words.• But why shouldn't feminists play with language for political ends?• She was given to playing with words in that way.• Recognising this, some feminists have used the alternative strategy of deliberately playing with words rather than attempting straightforwardly to redefine them.• Young children play with language, trying out sounds before they start experimenting with words.