frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

apple-polish, Taboo slang brown-nose: Ray is always playing up
to the teacher, trying to get a better mark. 19 play with. a
toy with, trifle with, treat cavalierly or lightly, make light
of, think nothing of, dally with, amuse oneself with: He's just
playing with her till he gets what he's after. b consider,
think about, toy with, not treat seriously: We were playing
with the idea of a winter holiday this year. c mess with,
fiddle with, toy with, fidget with: Stop playing with your
food!
--n. 20 drama, stage play, show, piece, production,
entertainment: We have tickets to a different play for every
night this week. 21 behaviour, actions, deportment, conduct,
demeanour: In the game of life, many have no regard for the
rules of fair play. The police suspect foul play. 22 amusement,
frivolity, entertainment, recreation, fun, pleasure, sport,
merrymaking, revelry, tomfoolery, Colloq horseplay, skylarking,
monkey business, Brit monkey tricks or US monkeyshines: The
time for play is past, and we must get down to serious business.
23 move, manoeuvre, action: That last play might have won you
the game. 24 flexibility, looseness, freedom, leeway, margin,
room, space, movement, motion, Colloq give: There's too much
play in this gear lever. 25 treatment, coverage, attention:
The newspapers gave Connie's new book a big play.
playboy n. man about town, rou‚, rake, debauchee, gay dog, womanizer,
Don Juan, Casanova, Lothario, Romeo, Colloq wolf, lady-killer:
He fancies himself as a playboy, but no women seem to agree.
player n. 1 contestant, participant, competitor, contender; athlete,
sportswoman, sportsman, Colloq US jock: Chess players from all
over the world came together for the championship. The referee
sent three players off. 2 actor or actress, performer,
entertainer, trouper, Thespian: The local drama group is the
Allen Arts Players. 3 gambler, better or especially US bettor,
gamester, speculator, Brit punter: J.B. is a big player in the
commodities market. 4 musician, instrumentalist, performer,
virtuoso: Gladys is one of the best tuba players in the band.
playful adj. 1 (high-)spirited, cheerful, frisky, frolicsome,
kittenish, sprightly, fun-loving, sportive, coltish,
mischievous, puckish, impish, elfish, devilish: The cat didn't
mean to scratch you, she was just being playful. 2 joking,