play false
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (transitive) 1. To deceive or betray someone; to act dishonestly or treacherously towards a person. * This phrase means to deliberately mislead someone who trusts you, often for personal gain or advantage. It implies a breach of trust or faith.
Usage
The verb "play false" is used with a direct object (the person being deceived). It is a formal or literary expression. * Structure: [Subject] + play false + [Object/Pronoun]. * It describes an act of deliberate deception, often where the victim is unaware of the betrayal.
Examples
- Verb:
- He discovered that his closest ally had played him false in the negotiations.
- If your memory plays you false, please consult the official records.
- She trusted him completely, never imagining he would play her false.
Advanced Usage
- "to play someone false": This is the standard construction, emphasizing the target of the deception.
- The spy's mission was to gain their confidence and then play them false.
Variants and Related Words
- Double-cross (verb): To betray someone by pretending to support them while helping their opponent.
- Two-time (verb, informal): To be unfaithful to a romantic partner.
Synonyms
- Betray: To be disloyal to someone who trusts you.
- Deceive: To cause someone to believe something that is not true.
- Mislead: To cause someone to have a wrong idea or impression.
Related Idioms
- Stab in the back: To betray someone in a treacherous and unexpected way.
- His public criticism was a real stab in the back.
- Lead someone up the garden path: To deceive someone.
- The salesman led us up the garden path about the car's condition.
Verb
- conceal one's true motives from especially by elaborately feigning good intentions so as to gain an end
- He bamboozled his professors into thinking that he knew the subject well