Meanings
verbplay small (third-person singular simple present plays small, present participle playing small, simple past and past participle played small)
present singular third person plays small · participle present playing small · participle past played small · past played small
- figurativelyTo play for low stakes; to aim low; to be unwilling to take risks; to be fearful.
Near-synonym: play it safe
Synonyms: play it safe · Antonyms: play big
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo play for low stakes; to aim low; to be unwilling to take risks; to be fearful.
Similar
Opposite
Translations
Finnish pelata pienellä panoksella
- pelata pienellä panoksellaTranslations
French jouer petit bas
- jouer petit basTranslations
Polish mierzyć nisko
- mierzyć niskoTranslations
Cite this entry
APA
play small. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20small
MLA
“play small.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20small. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “play small,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20small.
Source: play small on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.