(idiomatic, often rude) To go elsewhere and feel free to engage in risky behavior; get lost.

A play belonging to a 19th-century neoclassical theatrical genre involving a tight plot and a climax close to the end. The story depends upon a key piece of information kept from some characters, and moves forward in a chain of actions that use minor reversals of fortune to create suspense.

Synonym of act the goat

present participle of play Old Gooseberry

simple past tense and past participle of play Old Gooseberry

(archaic, idiomatic, UK) To suddenly put a stop to a disturbance by force or threats. / (archaic, idiomatic, UK) To play the devil; to make mischief.

plural of play-action pass

To avoid the use of pronouns for one's partner or lover, so as to conceal one's sexual orientation.

Synonym of play to the gallery

(idiomatic) The cessation of an activity or operation due to rain (by analogy with cricket).