Vocabulary
jouer
to play (engage in games or play); to play (produce music from a musical instrument); to play (a role); to bid (money), gamble; to be close to the end, to be only a matter of time, be decided (as a fate); to be of importance (in), affect, intervein (in); to take advantage of, make fun of
Verb
jouer le jeu
to play the game, to play by the rules, to observe the rules of the game; to play along, to go along, to play ball
Verb
jouer la montre
to run out the clock, to play for time, to play the waiting game, to use delaying tactics, to stall
Verb
jouer au docteur
to play doctor (to pretend to be doctor and patient as a form of child play); to play doctor (to engage in sexual role-play of a medical nature)
Verb
jouer des coudes
to elbow one's way through, to jostle for position, to push and shove; to elbow one's way to the top
Verb
jouer avec le feu
to play with fire; to cut it fine (to achieve something at the last possible moment, or with no margin for error)
Verb
jouer sur les mots
to argue semantics, to play on semantics, to quibble, to deliberately misinterpret someone's words
Verb
jouer sur du velours
to play it safe, not to take any risk; to be onto a sure thing, to have it made, to have it all tied up, to have it easy
Verb
jouer cartes sur table
to play it straight, to play fair (to be upfront, honest; to act in a straightforward, candid manner, without concealing anything)
Verb
jouer sur tous les tableaux
to play the field, to play several sides at once, to keep plates spinning (especially in a romantic context)
Verb