play someone like a violin

verb

To control or manipulate someone, especially by playing on their emotions.

Similar
play someone like a fiddleplay someone like a bass fiddlewrap around one's little finger
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Meanings

verbplay someone like a violin (third-person singular simple present plays someone like a violin, present participle playing someone like a violin, simple past and past participle played someone like a violin)

present singular third person plays someone like a violin · participle present playing someone like a violin · participle past played someone like a violin · past played someone like a violin

  1. idiomaticTo control or manipulate someone, especially by playing on their emotions.

    Synonyms: play someone like a fiddle, play someone like a bass fiddle, wrap around one's little finger

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo control or manipulate someone, especially by playing on their emotions.

Similar
play someone like a fiddleplay someone like a bass fiddlewrap around one's little finger
Also see
play someone like a fiddlewrap around one's little finger

Translations

French jouer du violon (à quelqu'un)
  • jouer du violon (à quelqu'un)Translations
Polish owijać sobie wokół palca, owinąć sobie wokół palca
  • owijać sobie wokół palcaTranslations
  • owinąć sobie wokół palcaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

play someone like a violin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20someone%20like%20a%20violin

MLA

“play someone like a violin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20someone%20like%20a%20violin. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “play someone like a violin,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/play%20someone%20like%20a%20violin.

Source: play someone like a violin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.