play off

To make people compete or argue with each other so that you gain an advantage.

• She played the two rivals off against each other.
• The manager played off his employees to keep control.
• Are they playing us off against the other team?

How to use it: play someone off against someone (The buyer played one supplier off against another.)

Similar words: pit against, set against

Opposites: unite

Common phrases: play off rivals, play off two sides

To treat something as less serious or embarrassing than it really is.

• He tried to play off his mistake.
• She played the injury off as nothing serious.
• Can you really play off that insult as a joke?

How to use it: play something off as something (She played the mistake off as a joke.); play something off (He played his embarrassment off with a smile.)

Similar words: play down, brush off, make light of

Opposites: emphasize

Common phrases: play off something, play off a mistake

Teams or players compete in an extra match to decide a winner.

• The teams will play off tomorrow.
• They played off for the last place in the final.
• Who will we play off against?

How to use it: play off against someone (The two finalists will play off against each other.)

Similar words: compete

Common phrases: play off against someone, teams play off