play on

present singular third person plays on · participle present playing on · participle past played on · past played on

1. also 'play upon'To exploit (a potential weakness or vulnerability) by exacerbating.

   to play on someone's fears

2. also 'play upon'To exploit (a double meaning, similarity in sound, etc.) for humorous or creative effect.

   This joke plays on the fact that 'thirsty' sounds similar to 'Thursday'.

3. also 'play upon'To impinge upon in a recurring or nagging way.

   to play on one's mind, or conscience

4. also 'play upon'To frequently allude to or return to as a theme.

   The pamphlet plays on the idea that all social conflict is class-based.

5. ball gamesto hit the ball into his own wicket, thus being out bowled
6. intransitivehobbiesTo let the game continue after a foul has been committed, because the situation is advantageous to the team who would be awarded a foul.
7. transitivesports such as soccerTo cause (an opposing player) to be onside rather than offside due to one's position on the field of play.

   The ref said that Smith was offside, but I think that Jones played him on.

8. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, on.

   I knew I was losing, but I played on anyways.