play on

To use someone’s fears, hopes, or weaknesses to influence them.

• He played on her fears.
• These adverts play on our wish to look younger.
• Are you trying to play on my guilt?

How to use it: play on someone’s feelings (The advert plays on parents’ fears.)

Similar words: exploit, take advantage of

Common phrases: play on fears, play on someone’s guilt

To continue playing a game or making music.

• The band played on.
• Despite the rain, both teams played on.
• The referee told us to play on.

Similar words: keep playing, continue

Opposites: stop

Common phrases: play on quietly, play on despite something

To use similar sounds or different meanings of words to make a joke or create an effect.

• The joke plays on two meanings of “light”.
• Her slogan played on the company’s name.
• This poem plays on words that sound alike.

How to use it: play on something (The title plays on the word “spring”.)

Similar words: make a pun on

Common phrases: play on words, play on a name

To keep troubling someone’s thoughts or making them feel guilty.

• The mistake played on my mind.
• Her lie has been playing on her conscience for weeks.
• Does that memory still play on your mind?

How to use it: play on someone’s mind/conscience (The unanswered question played on his mind.)

Similar words: weigh on, trouble, haunt

Common phrases: play on someone’s mind, play on someone’s conscience

To stand where your position keeps an opposing player within the rules rather than offside.

• The defender played him on.
• Your position played their striker on when the pass was made.
• Who played the attacker on before that goal?

How to use it: play someone on (The last defender played the striker on.)

Similar words: keep onside

Common phrases: play someone on, play the striker on

To return repeatedly to a particular idea or theme in writing or speech.

• The poem plays on the theme of loneliness.
• His speech played on the idea of national unity.
• Several chapters play on the conflict between duty and desire.

How to use it: play on a theme/idea (The novel plays on the idea of lost identity.)

Similar words: return to, revisit

Common phrases: play on a theme, play on an idea