› to amuse oneself
jugar
He is playing with his toys
The little girl wants to play with her friends. › to take part in (games etc)
jugar (a)
Here’s a pack of cards – who wants to play (with me)? › to act in a play etc; to act (a character)
representar, actuar
She’s playing Lady Macbeth
› (of a play etc) to be performed
ser representado
› (usually with on) to carry out or do (a trick)
gastar una broma (a alguien)
› (usually with at) to compete against (someone) in a game etc
jugar contra
› to direct (over or towards something)
dirigir
The firemen played their hoses over the burning house. playable adjective › (opposite unplayable) (of a ground, pitch etc) not good enough for a game to be played on it
en condiciones para jugar, bueno para jugar
playful adjective › joking; not serious
gracioso, en broma, chistoso
playfully adverb ›
en broma, con gracia
She playfully ruffled his hair. playfulness noun ›
carácter juguetón, jocosidad
playscript noun › the written text of a play, which is used by actors during rehearsals
Obra de Teatro
He lent me a copy of the playscript. playtime noun › a set time for children to play (at school etc)
recreo
The children go outside at playtime.
playwright noun › a person who writes plays
dramaturgo
at play › playing
jugando, que juegan
There are children at play in the area. bring/come into play › to (cause to) be used or exercised
ejercitar, utilizar
The job allowed him to bring all his talents into play. child’s play noun › something that is very easy
juego de niños, pan comido
Of course you can do it – it’s child’s play! in play ( out of play) › (of a ball) according to the rules of the game, (not) in a position where it can be hit, kicked etc
dentro/fuera de juego
The ball landed just out of play.
play at phrasal verb › to pretend to be etc
jugar a
The children were playing at cowboys and Indians.
› used when asking angrily what someone is doing
jugar a
What does he think he’s playing at (=doing)? play down phrasal verb › to try to make (something) appear less important
quitar importancia (a), minimizar
He played down the fact that he had failed the exam. play into someone’s hands play off against phrasal verb play on phrasal verb › to make use of (someone’s feelings, fears etc)
aprovecharse (de), explotar
He played on my sympathy until I lent him $10. play a/no part in › (not) to be one of the people who are doing (something)
(no) tomar parte, (no) participar
play safe › to take no risks
ir a lo seguro, no arriesgarse
play up phrasal verb › to be troublesome or disobedient
dar la lata, portarse mal, hacer de las suyas
The children are playing up today.