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.