play the devil with
play hob with
To cause confusion in; upset.
Uncle Bob's unexpected visit played the devil with our own plans to travel.
Mother's illness played hob with our party.
play the field
To date many different people; not always have dates with the same person.
Al had a steady girlfriend, but John was playing the field.
Jim was crazy about Mary, but she was still playing the field.
play the game
To obey the rules; do right; act fairly.
"That's not playing the game," we told him when he wanted to desert his wife.
"Oh, let's play the game," he said, when his partner suggested a way to keep from paying some of their debts.
Your parents want you to play the game in life.
play the market
To try to make money on the stock market by buying and selling stocks.
John lost all his savings playing the market.
Sometimes Mr. Smith makes a lot of money when he plays the market, and sometimes he loses.
play to the gallery
To try to get the approval of the audience.
Whenever John recites in class he seems to be playing to the gallery.
The lawyer for the defense was more interested in playing to the gallery than in winning the case.
polish the apple
apple polishing
To try to make someone like you; to try to win favor by flattery.
Стараться понравиться кому-либо. Льстить, подлизываться.
Mary polished the apple at work because she wanted a day off.
Susan is the teacher's pet because she always polishes the apple.
Nobody likes the girl because she is always polishing the apple with her teacher.
Никому не нравится эта девочка, ибо она постоянно подлизывается к учительн.
When John I brought his teacher flowers, everyone thought he was apple polishing.
pop the question
To ask someone to marry you.
After the dance he popped the question.
A man is often too bashful to pop the question.
pot call the kettle black
The person who is criticizing someone else is as guilty as the person he accuses; the charge is as true of the person who makes it as of the one he makes it against.
When the commissioner accused the road builder of bribery, the contractor said the pot was calling the kettle black.
Bill said John was cheating at a game but John replied that the pot was calling the kettle black.