你以為「play」只能拿來說「玩遊戲」、「打球」嗎？錯錯錯～
這個字雖然簡單，但其實是英文裡超萬用的一個動詞，意思超多元，不只可以用來講娛樂、演戲、樂器，還能用來表示態度、策略、互動、表現方式，甚至還能讓人聽起來很幽默或諷刺。
這次我整理了 30 種「play」的用法，每一種都實用又有趣，而且搭配日常生活就能用上。每個片語我都加上詞彙說明，還配三個實用例句讓你馬上學馬上會。不多說，直接來學！
1. Play it cool
保持冷靜、不動聲色
這個片語常用在想表現鎮定、不想讓別人看出自己緊張或在意的時候。
I was freaking out inside, but I tried to play it cool.
我內心超慌，但表面上我努力裝得很冷靜。Just play it cool when you meet her. Don’t let her know you like her.
見到她時就裝冷靜一點，不要讓她知道你喜歡她。He played it cool during the interview and totally nailed it.
他在面試時超淡定，結果表現超好。
2. Play dumb
裝傻
這用法常見於逃避責任或假裝不知道某些事。
When my boss asked who deleted the file, I just played dumb.
老闆問誰刪了檔案，我馬上裝傻。She always plays dumb when it’s time to clean up.
一到要打掃的時候她就裝傻。Don’t play dumb with me. I know you saw the message.
別跟我裝傻，我知道你有看到訊息。
3. Play hard to get
欲擒故縱
這個在戀愛場景很常出現，表示不讓對方太快得手。
I think she’s just playing hard to get.
我覺得她只是在欲擒故縱啦。Stop playing hard to get and just tell him you like him!
別再吊他胃口了，直接跟他說你喜歡他！Sometimes playing hard to get makes people even more interested.
有時候欲擒故縱會讓人更想追。
4. Play a role
參與其中、發揮作用
這個用法可以指某人在某個情境裡的貢獻或影響。
Parents play a vital role in a child’s development.
父母在孩子的成長過程中扮演很重要的角色。Social media plays a big role in shaping public opinion.
社群媒體在塑造輿論方面有很大影響。He played a major role in the success of the project.
這個專案會成功他功不可沒。
5. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
只工作不玩耍，生活會無趣
這是一句英文諺語，提醒人們工作之餘要懂得放鬆。
You should take a break. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
你該休息一下啦，老是工作會變得無趣耶。I’m trying to balance my life now. You know, all work and no play…
我現在努力讓生活平衡，畢竟不能光工作。That quote, “All work and no play,” is exactly how I feel lately.
那句話完全是我最近的寫照。
6. Play along
配合演出、裝作沒事
常用在明知道真相但還是假裝不知道，或是配合某個情境。
I just played along when he told that silly story.
他講那個無聊的故事時我就配合笑了。She’s planning a surprise party, so play along, okay?
她在準備驚喜派對，你先裝作不知道喔。Even though I knew he was lying, I played along.
雖然我知道他在說謊，但我還是配合演。
7. Play it by ear
隨機應變、看情況行事
這個片語超實用，尤其在沒有明確計畫的時候。
Let’s play it by ear and decide where to go later.
我們之後再看情況決定要去哪。I didn’t prepare a speech. I’ll just play it by ear.
我沒準備演講稿，就看情況發揮囉。We don’t know how the meeting will go, so we’ll play it by ear.
不知道會議會怎樣進行，只好見招拆招了。
8. Play with fire
玩火、冒險
這表示做某件很危險或不明智的事。
Dating your boss is like playing with fire.
跟上司交往簡直是在玩火。If you keep lying, you’re playing with fire.
你再繼續說謊就真的太危險了。He’s playing with fire by investing all his savings in crypto.
他把所有積蓄都投資加密貨幣，根本是玩火。
9. Play favorites
偏心
表示對某些人特別好或偏袒。
The teacher always plays favorites, it’s so obvious.
那個老師超明顯偏心的。I try not to play favorites with my kids.
我盡量不在小孩之間偏心。It’s unfair to play favorites in the workplace.
職場上偏心真的不公平。
10. Play the victim
裝可憐、假裝是受害者
用來形容某人明明有責任卻總是扮演受害者的角色。
She always plays the victim whenever there’s a conflict.
每次吵架她都裝可憐。Don’t play the victim now. We both know it’s your fault.
現在別裝可憐啦，大家都知道是你害的。He’s good at playing the victim to gain sympathy.
他超會裝可憐博同情的。
11. Play it safe
保守行事、不冒險
這用法表示在不確定或有風險的情況下選擇比較穩妥的方式。
I decided to play it safe and take the umbrella.
我決定保險一點，還是帶傘好了。Let’s play it safe and leave early to catch the train.
為了保險起見，我們早點出發搭火車吧。He usually plays it safe with his investments.
他投資通常都走保守路線。
12. Play tricks on someone
捉弄、惡作劇
這個常用在開玩笑、搞鬼、整人情境。
The kids played tricks on their teacher during April Fool’s Day.
愚人節時，小朋友惡整了老師。Are you playing tricks on me or is that really a ghost?
你是在耍我還是真的有鬼？He loves to play tricks on his little brother.
他超愛捉弄他弟。
13. Play second fiddle
居於次要地位、當副手
「fiddle」是小提琴，「second fiddle」本意是第二小提琴，引申為當配角、輔助者。
I don’t want to play second fiddle to anyone.
我不想再當副手了。She was tired of playing second fiddle at work.
她受夠了在職場當背景人物。He’s fine with playing second fiddle as long as the team wins.
隻要團隊贏，他不介意當配角。
14. Play ball
合作、配合
這個短語源自棒球，意思是願意合作、跟著規則走。
If you don’t play ball, we can’t help you.
如果你不配合，我們幫不了你。They refused to play ball with the new management.
他們不願意配合新管理層。Just play ball and everything will go smoothly.
你配合一點，事情就會順利很多。
15. Play the field
談很多戀愛、還沒定下來
這常指在愛情裡還在認識各種對象、還沒想定下來。
He’s still young and just playing the field.
他還年輕，還在多方嘗試。You can’t expect her to settle down, she’s playing the field.
她現在還不想定下來啦。After my last breakup, I decided to play the field for a while.
上段戀情後，我決定先好好自由一下。
16. Play on words
文字遊戲、雙關語
這是一種語言的幽默技巧，用詞語的多重意思來搞笑或創意表達。
The ad had a clever play on words.
那個廣告有個超聰明的文字遊戲。I love jokes that involve a play on words.
我很喜歡有雙關語的笑話。Her book title is a play on words and really catchy.
她書名用了文字遊戲，超吸睛。
17. Play host
當主人、招待客人
用來形容你是那個接待人、主人，負責讓大家開心的人。
He played host to a group of international students.
他接待了一群國際學生。Thanks for playing host to us tonight.
謝謝你今晚的招待！She’s great at playing host during parties.
她超會在派對裡當好主人。
18. Play dirty
使壞、不擇手段
這個片語用在競爭或爭執中某人用不道德的方式贏。
He played dirty to win the election.
他用骯髒手段贏得選舉。Don’t play dirty just because you’re losing.
不要因為輸了就耍賤招。She’s known for playing dirty in business deals.
她在生意上出名會耍陰招。
19. Play it up
誇大其詞、強調
這用法表示把某件事講得比實際更誇張、吸睛。
The media played up the scandal.
媒體把醜聞大肆報導。Don’t play it up, it’s not a big deal.
別誇張啦，沒那麼嚴重。He always plays up his achievements.
他總是誇大自己的成就。
20. Play down
淡化、不強調
跟上面「play it up」相反，用來描述某人故意把事講得小、看起來沒什麼。
The company tried to play down the incident.
公司試圖淡化那起事件。She played down her role in the project.
她刻意低調自己在專案中的貢獻。I played it down, but I was actually really nervous.
我表面裝輕鬆，但其實超緊張。
21. Play for time
拖延時間、爭取時間
這用法很適合在談判、比賽或危機時想拖延一點時間的情況。
The team played for time to plan their next move.
球隊先拖延一下，好準備下一步。I played for time during the meeting so my boss could join.
我在會議中拖了一下，好等老闆來。She played for time by asking a lot of questions.
她一直問問題來拖延時間。
22. Play up to someone
拍馬屁、奉承
這種人常出現在職場或學校，用來討好權力人物。
He’s always playing up to the boss.
他總是在拍老闆馬屁。Stop playing up to the teacher, it’s so obvious.
別再對老師拍馬屁了，超明顯。She played up to the director to get the role.
她為了拿到角色一直在奉承導演。
23. Play chicken
比膽大、看誰先退讓
這用法源自兩台車互撞遊戲，比誰先閃躲，暗指冒險對決。
They’re playing chicken with each other in the negotiation.
他們在談判中互相叫板，看誰先讓步。Don’t play chicken with traffic. It’s dangerous.
別跟車輛硬拼，很危險耶！The kids played chicken by running across the street.
小孩跑過馬路在玩膽小鬼遊戲。
24. Play hooky
翹課、翹班
這是比較俚語化的說法。
We played hooky and went to the beach.
我們翹課去海邊了。I caught him playing hooky from work yesterday.
我昨天發現他偷偷翹班。Sometimes you just need to play hooky for mental health.
有時候翹一天對心理健康也好。
25. Play dead
裝死
這可以是字面上的逃生手段，也可以用在開玩笑或戲劇性的情況。
The dog played dead when it saw the vacuum.
狗看到吸塵器就裝死。I played dead to avoid getting in trouble.
我裝死以避免惹麻煩。He played dead during the prank to scare his friend.
他在惡作劇中裝死嚇朋友。
26. Play nice
好好相處、別爭吵
常用來勸小孩或吵架中的人「請和平一點」。
You two better play nice at grandma’s house.
去奶奶家你們要好好相處喔。Can’t you just play nice for once?
你們不能就和平相處一次嗎？I told the kids to play nice before I left.
我出門前跟小孩說要乖乖的。
27. Play by the rules
守規矩
這個就很直白，表示按規則行事。
We played by the rules, and we still lost.
我們照規矩來，還是輸了。He doesn’t like to play by the rules.
他不喜歡照規則走。If you want to win fairly, you have to play by the rules.
想贏得光明正大，就得守規矩。
28. Play mind games
耍心機、心理操控
這是比較心理戰那種操控對方的技巧。
She’s playing mind games with him again.
她又在耍心機操控他。I hate people who play mind games in relationships.
我最討厭感情中耍心理戰的人。He played mind games to make her feel insecure.
他用心機讓她沒有安全感。
29. Play a prank
開玩笑、搞惡作劇
這和「play tricks」類似，但更偏搞笑型。
They played a prank on their coworker’s birthday.
他們在同事生日那天惡整他。I love to play pranks, but only harmless ones.
我很愛搞笑惡作劇，但不傷人的那種。Don’t play pranks on strangers, it’s not cool.
不要惡整陌生人，這樣不好。
30. Play your cards right
好好掌握機會
這是比喻性的用法，像打牌時知道怎麼出牌才能贏。
If you play your cards right, you might get a promotion.
如果你好好表現，可能會升官喔。She knows how to play her cards right in every situation.
她每次都知道該怎麼掌控局面。You need to play your cards right to win his heart.
想追到他，要好好下對棋喔。
以上就是完整 30 種「play」的延伸用法，每一個都超生活、超實用，背起來就像在英文裡開外掛！如果你喜歡這種延伸詞彙＋例句的實戰學習方式，我還可以幫你整理其他類似的常用動詞喔，像是 get、make、take、turn 這些也都有一堆有趣用法～需要的話，隨時跟我說！