What is "to play off"

Play \Play\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Played; p. pr. & vb. n. Playing.] [OE. pleien, AS. plegian, plegan, to play, akin to plega play, game, quick motion, and probably to OS. plegan to promise, pledge, D. plegen to care for, attend to, be wont, G. pflegen; of unknown origin. [root]28. Cf. Plight, n.]

1. To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot.

   As Cannace was playing in her walk.
   --Chaucer.

   The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy reason, would he skip and play!
   --Pope.

   And some, the darlings of their Lord, Play smiling with the flame and sword.
   --Keble.

2. To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless.

   ``Nay,'' quod this monk, ``I have no lust to pleye.''
   --Chaucer.

   Men are apt to play with their healths.
   --Sir W. Temple.

3. To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes.

4. To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a flute.

   One that . . . can play well on an instrument.
   --Ezek. xxxiii. 32.

   Play, my friend, and charm the charmer.
   --Granville.

5. To act; to behave; to practice deception.

   His mother played false with a smith.
   --Shak.

6. To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as, the fountain plays.

   The heart beats, the blood circulates, the lungs play.
   --Cheyne.

7. To move gayly; to wanton; to disport.

   Even as the waving sedges play with wind.
   --Shak.

   The setting sun Plays on their shining arms and burnished helmets.
   --Addison.

   All fame is foreign but of true desert, Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart.
   --Pope.

8. To act on the stage; to personate a character. A lord will hear your play to-night. --Shak. Courts are theaters where some men play. --Donne. To play into a person's hands, to act, or to manage matters, to his advantage or benefit. To play off, to affect; to feign; to practice artifice. To play upon.

   1. To make sport of; to deceive.

      Art thou alive? Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight.
      --Shak.

   2. To use in a droll manner; to give a droll expression or application to; as, to play upon words.

Play \Play\, v. t.

1. To put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump.

   First Peace and Silence all disputes control, Then Order plays the soul.
   --Herbert.

2. To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ.

3. To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to play a waltz on the violin.

4. To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute; as, to play tricks.

   Nature here Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will Her virgin fancies.
   --Milton.

5. To act or perform (a play); to represent in music action; as, to play a comedy; also, to act in the character of; to represent by acting; to simulate; to behave like; as, to play King Lear; to play the woman.

   Thou canst play the rational if thou wilt.
   --Sir W. Scott.

6. To engage in, or go together with, as a contest for amusement or for a wager or prize; as, to play a game at baseball.

7. To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.

   To play hob, to play the part of a mischievous spirit; to work mischief.

   To play off, to display; to show; to put in exercise; as, to play off tricks.

   To play one's cards, to manage one's means or opportunities; to contrive.

   Played out, tired out; exhausted; at the end of one's resources. [Colloq.]