play a safe game
1play\ it\ safe — • play (it) safe v. phr. informal To be very careful; accept small gains or none to avoid loss; avoid danger for the sake of safety. He got tired as the game went on, and began to play safe. Tom didn t know what the other driver would do, so he… …
2play — ► VERB 1) engage in games or other activities for enjoyment rather than for a serious or practical purpose. 2) take part in (a sport or contest). 3) compete against. 4) take a specified position in a sports team. 5) represent (a character) in a… …
3play\ safe — • play (it) safe v. phr. informal To be very careful; accept small gains or none to avoid loss; avoid danger for the sake of safety. He got tired as the game went on, and began to play safe. Tom didn t know what the other driver would do, so he… …
4play — play1 [ pleı ] verb *** ▸ 1 take part in sport/game ▸ 2 make music/sound ▸ 3 have part in play, etc. ▸ 4 when children have fun ▸ 5 when light moves ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) intransitive or transitive to take part in a sport or game: The girls are out… …
5play */*/*/ — I UK [pleɪ] / US verb Word forms play : present tense I/you/we/they play he/she/it plays present participle playing past tense played past participle played 1) [intransitive/transitive] to take part in a sport or game The children were playing… …
6play — play1 W1S1 [pleı] v ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(children)¦ 2¦(sports/games)¦ 3¦(music)¦ 4¦(radio/cd etc)¦ 5¦(theatre/film)¦ 6 play a part/role 7 play ball 8¦(pretend)¦ 9¦(behave)¦ 10 play games …
7play — /pleɪ / (say play) noun 1. a dramatic composition or piece; a drama. 2. a dramatic performance, as on the stage. 3. exercise or action by way of amusement or recreation. 4. fun, jest, or trifling, as opposed to earnest: he said it merely in play …
8play — [[t]ple͟ɪ[/t]] ♦ plays, playing, played 1) VERB When children, animals, or perhaps adults play, they spend time doing enjoyable things, such as using toys and taking part in games. ...invite the children round to play... They played in the little …
9play — 1 /pleI/ verb 1 CHILDREN (I, T) when children play, they do things that they enjoy, often together or with toys: The children ran off to play on the beach. | play sth: The boys were playing soldiers. | I don t want to play that game! (+ with):… …
10safe — [[t]se͟ɪf[/t]] ♦♦ safer, safest, safes 1) ADJ GRADED: oft it v link ADJ to inf Something that is safe does not cause physical harm or danger. Officials arrived to assess whether it is safe to bring emergency food supplies into the city... Most… …