play on
To keep playing without stopping, or to use someone's feelings to get what you want.
Meanings
To continue playing a sport or game without stopping.
"Despite the rain, the referee told the players to play on."
To exploit someone's emotions, fears, or weaknesses for your own advantage.
"The advertisement plays on parents' fears about their children's safety."
""He played on the nation's anger and fear.""
— The Guardian, 2016
To make a pun or joke based on the double meaning of a word (often 'play on words').
"The title of the book is a clever play on the word 'heir'."
The sense of exploiting emotions ('play on someone's fears') is common in journalism and political writing. The sense of continuing a game is used in sports commentary.
Commonly used with
Forms
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