play along

To help with a trick, joke, or false story by acting as if it is real.

• Just play along and pretend you know me.
• He played along with the joke to surprise his sister.
• I refused to play along with their dishonest scheme.

How to use it: play along with someone/something (She played along with our story about the missing cake.)

Similar words: join in, go along

Common phrases: play along with someone, play along with something

To cooperate with someone’s plan or request, even if you have doubts about it.

• I will play along for now.
• They played along with the plan despite their doubts.
• Will you play along until we know more?

How to use it: play along with someone/something (We agreed to play along with her plan for now.)

Similar words: cooperate, go along

Opposites: resist

Common phrases: play along with someone, play along for now

You act as if you agree with someone, although you do not really agree.

• I knew it was a joke, so I played along.
• She played along with their plan while secretly looking for help.
• Will you play along and pretend we have never met?

How to use it: play along with someone/something (I played along with his story to avoid an argument.)

Similar words: pretend to agree, humor

Common phrases: play along with someone, play along with something

To act as if you believe a joke or trick, although you know what is really happening.

• I knew the answer but decided to play along.
• She realized they were joking and played along anyway.
• Did he play along, or was he really fooled?

How to use it: play along with someone/something (I knew it was a prank but played along with them.)

Similar words: pretend, humor

Common phrases: play along with someone, play along anyway

To make music on an instrument at the same time as a recording, matching its speed and rhythm.

• Play along with this song.
• She played along on her guitar.
• Can you play along without looking at the music?

How to use it: play along with something (I play along with my favorite recordings.)

Similar words: accompany

Common phrases: play along with recordings, play along on guitar

To keep someone believing your lies so you can use them for your own purposes.

• He played her along with false promises.
• The scammers played their victims along until they sent money.
• She realized he had been playing her along for months.

How to use it: play someone along (The fraudster played her along with promises of a huge reward.)

Similar words: string along, deceive

Common phrases: play someone along, play victims along