play along
verb7 senses
- 1To take part in a charade, deception, or practical joke.
- 2To participate in a joke or trick while hiding one's…
- 3To play a musical instrument in synchrony with a…
- 4To cooperate or go along with a plan.
- 5To pretend to cooperate or go along with a plan.
- 6To manipulate (someone).
- 7Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, along.
1
Idiomatic To take part in a charade, deception, or practical joke.
- James thought it was cruel for the fraternity members to make the pledge think his father had died suddenly and refused to play along.
- James played along with their cruel trick.
1 more example
- North Korea loves to spring surprises. More unusual is for its US foe to play along.29 February 2012, Aidan Foster-Carter, BBC News North Korea: The denuclearisation dance resumeshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17213948
2
Idiomatic To participate in a joke or trick while hiding one's knowledge of its true nature.
- I knew that my blind date was an April Fools trick, but I played along anyway.
3
Idiomatic To play a musical instrument in synchrony with a playback of a recording.
- I like to practise guitar by playing along with records.
- I have doubts about your plan, but I'll play along for now.
- I haven't told him yet, I'm still playing along with his scheme.
- The con man plays his victims along until he senses the moment to ask for money.
7
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, along.
- The children spent the day playing along the river.
- Related terms
- play dumb