1、Play ball 合作；随波逐流，屈服；做别人想让你做的事

Play ball! The materials that we need to start working have finally arrived.

合作开始吧！我们开始工作的材料终于到了。

It looks like the boss wants us to do things her way. Alright then, let's play ball!

看来老板想让我们按她的方式做事。好吧，那我们去遵从指令吧！

2、Play up 强调，夸大

If you want this plan to work, you really have to play up the skill of your teacher!

如果你想让这个计划奏效，你真的必须夸大你老师的技能！

3、Play down 贬低

Don't play down your skills if you are trying to pitch your services to a potential client.

如果你试图向潜在客户推销你的服务，不要贬低你的技能。

4、Play with fire 玩火；做危险的事

He who plays with fire gets burned.

玩火者必自焚。

5、Play whupass (在比赛时蛮干)恶战

Our Frogs are gonna play some whupass with the Owls today.

今天我们蛙队要同猫头鹰队恶战一场。

6、Play (或operate) with a full deck (多用于否定句)头脑清醒，智力正常；光明磊落

Neither of the poor things was operating with a full deck.

这两个可怜家伙，没有一个是头脑清醒的。

He has bluffed you into thinking he was playing with a full deck.

他把你给骗了，让你相信他是光明磊落的。

7、Play who shot John 互相推诿、指责

The responsibility is both of yours. Neither of you two could play who shot John.

责任是你们俩的。你们两个人谁也不能互相推诿。

8、Play the percentages 按部就班，稳扎稳打

It will be done by his playing the percentages.

他将按部就班地将它完成。

9、Play the field 同时与几个人谈情说爱

I thought I’d play the field until Joan came along.

在琼出现之前，我曾考虑过同好几个人谈情说爱。

10、Play the corker 言行乖戻，言行令同伴讨厌

Schoolmates won’t talk with him, because he plays the corker.

他言行乖戾，同学们都不愿同他说话。

11、Play it cool 故作镇定

If the boss walks in, just play it cool.

假如老板进来，你只要保持镇静就行。

12、Play hardball 采取强硬方式；破坏、毁坏、损害(某人或某事物)；给(某人或某事物)制造麻烦；对…大发脾气

Things are getting a little lough. The President has decided to play hardball on this issue.

形势开始有点儿紧张起来。 总统已决定对这问题采取强硬政策。

If you drive badly, it plays hell with the tyres of your car.

如果你胡乱驾驶，那会损坏你的汽车轮胎。

Your decision plays hell with all my friends.

你的决定是在给我所有的朋友制造麻烦。

You shouldn’t play hell with me on this matter.

你不应该在这件事上对我大发脾气。