play off
verb1
Often, With as To portray (something) (as unimportant); to dismiss or make light of (a factor in a situation, or one's embarrassment about it); to pretend not to be embarrassed, upset, impressed, or otherwise affected by (it).
- After tripping, Sara tried to play her embarrassment off by laughing with everyone else.
- Although he's obviously hungover, he's trying to play it off as food poisoning.
2
To set (other people) against one another: to induce competition between them, especially in a covert way so that they do not realize the degree to which they have been played (manipulated).
- Stalin's propensity to play off his subordinates against one another is a well-studied theme.
3
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports To compete in a play-off; to compete against (an opponent) in a play-off.
4
Dated To display; to show; to put in exercise.
- to play off tricks