play at

suonare, giocare

Suonare o partecipare a un gioco in un luogo preciso.

In inglese semplice: To perform music or take part in a game at a particular place.

• We play at school.
• The band played at a small club.
• Will your team play at home on Saturday?

Come si usa: play at + place (The band will play at the town hall.)

Espressioni comuni: play at home, play at school, play at festivals

giocare a fare

Fingere di svolgere un lavoro o un ruolo particolare durante un gioco.

In inglese semplice: To pretend to have a particular job or role as part of a game.

• The children play at pirates.
• We played at being astronauts.
• She likes playing at being a teacher.

Come si usa: play at being someone (The children played at being shopkeepers.); play at something (We used to play at doctors.)

Sinonimi: make believe, pretend

Espressioni comuni: play at pirates, play at doctors, play at teaching

che cosa combinare, a che gioco giocare

Si usa per chiedere con rabbia perché qualcuno si comporta male o fa sciocchezze.

In inglese semplice: Used in an angry question to ask why someone is behaving badly or doing something foolish.

• What are you playing at?
• What on earth was he playing at, driving so fast?
• She demanded to know what we were playing at.

Come si usa: What are you playing at? (You nearly hit that cyclist! What are you playing at?); What do you think you are playing at? (What do you think you are playing at, leaving the door unlocked?)

Espressioni comuni: what you play at, what they play at

giocare a fare, fingere di fare

Fare qualcosa senza prenderla sul serio o impegnarsi davvero.

In inglese semplice: To do something without taking it seriously or making a real effort.

• He only plays at farming.
• She accused them of playing at business.
• Are you studying properly or just playing at being a student?

Come si usa: play at doing something (He plays at running a business but rarely works.); play at something (They are just playing at politics.)

Sinonimi: dabble in, toy with

Espressioni comuni: play at politics, play at business, play at farming