WordNet
plays a part
See play a part
Usage examples of "plays a part".
As king of the fairies, rather than of the dwarfs, he plays a part in a popular medieval romance called Huon of Bordeaux.
In the legends in which he plays a part he always appears as one of the Aesir.
Fourthly, when it plays a part, and does or says anything insincerely and untruly.