to play (at) cards

  • 11if you play your cards right — (if you) play (your) cards right informal something that you say to someone which means that if they behave in the right way, they might succeed at something. Play your cards right and you could be managing this place in a year or so …

    New idioms dictionary

  • 12play one's cards right — or[play one s cards well] {v. phr.}, {informal} To use abilities and opportunities so as to be successful; act cleverly; make the best use of your place or skills. * /That millionaire started with very little but showed a skill in playing his… …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 13play one's cards right — or[play one s cards well] {v. phr.}, {informal} To use abilities and opportunities so as to be successful; act cleverly; make the best use of your place or skills. * /That millionaire started with very little but showed a skill in playing his… …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 14play cards right — play (your) cards right to do the correct things to achieve a desired result. If I play my cards right, I could be hired as a consultant on that project. Etymology: based on the idea of playing (= choosing and putting on the table) the right card …

    New idioms dictionary

  • 15play — 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 …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 16play — 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):… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 17play — 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… …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 18play — [[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 …

    English dictionary

  • 19play */*/*/ — 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… …

    English dictionary

  • 20play cards right — (if you) play (your) cards right informal something that you say to someone which means that if they behave in the right way, they might succeed at something. Play your cards right and you could be managing this place in a year or so …

    New idioms dictionary