play off

enfrentar, poner en contra

Hacer que otros compitan o discutan entre sí para obtener una ventaja.

En inglés sencillo: 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?

Cómo se usa: play someone off against someone (The buyer played one supplier off against another.)

Sinónimos: pit against, set against

Antónimos: unite

Expresiones frecuentes: play off rivals, play off two sides

quitar importancia a, minimizar

Tratar algo como si fuera menos grave o vergonzoso de lo que realmente es.

En inglés sencillo: 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?

Cómo se usa: play something off as something (She played the mistake off as a joke.); play something off (He played his embarrassment off with a smile.)

Sinónimos: play down, brush off, make light of

Antónimos: emphasize

Expresiones frecuentes: play off something, play off a mistake

disputar un desempate

Disputar un partido adicional para decidir quién gana.

En inglés sencillo: 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?

Cómo se usa: play off against someone (The two finalists will play off against each other.)

Sinónimos: compete

Expresiones frecuentes: play off against someone, teams play off