" play both ends against the middle "

1: to engage in activity for amusement;

  * e.g., " ... told her son that he needed some time to run and play in the yard after his hard work "

•  Synonyms : 

•  dally,

•  disport,

•  frolic,

•  recreate,

•  rollick,

•  skylark,

•  sport,

•  toy

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

2: to present a portrayal or performance of;

  * e.g., " ... played Hamlet in the campus production of the classic "

•  Synonyms : 

•  act,

•  do,

•  impersonate,

•  interpret,

•  perform,

•  portray

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

3: to pretend to be (what one is not) in appearance or behavior;

  * e.g., " ... stop playing the innocent, because I know that you were behind that prank "

•  Synonyms : 

•  act,

•  impersonate,

•  masquerade (as),

•  personate,

•  pose (as)

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: to take unfair advantage of;

  * e.g., " ... the candidate played on the voters' prejudices "

•  Synonyms : 

•  abuse,

•  capitalize (on),

•  cash in (on),

•  exploit,

•  impose (on or upon),

•  leverage,

•  milk,

•  pimp,

•  use,

•  work

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: to control or take advantage of by artful, unfair, or insidious means;

  * e.g., " ... played upon the customer's vanity to convince her to buy the expensive makeup kit "

•  Synonyms : 

•  exploit,

•  manipulate

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously;

  * e.g., " ... please don't play with the telephone "

•  Synonyms : 

•  diddle (with),

•  fiddle (with),

•  fool (with),

•  mess (with),

•  monkey (with),

•  tamper (with),

•  tinker (with),

•  toy (with),

•  twiddle (with)

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)