play politics

play politics
play politics
1. Lit. to negotiate politically. •

Everybody at city hall is playing politics as usual.

If you're elected as a member of a political party, you'll have to play politics.

2. to allow politics to dominate in matters where principle should prevail. •

Look, I came here to discuss the legal issues of this trial, not play politics.

They're not making reasonable decisions. They're playing politics.

* * *
{v. phr.} To make secret agreements for your own gain; handle different groups for your own advantage. * /In order to get elected, he had to play politics with both the unions and the bosses./ * /Mary always gets what she wants by playing office politics./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • play politics — {v. phr.} To make secret agreements for your own gain; handle different groups for your own advantage. * /In order to get elected, he had to play politics with both the unions and the bosses./ * /Mary always gets what she wants by playing office… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • play politics — (with (something)) to make something into a political issue. She accused her opponent of playing politics with affirmative action in an attempt to divide the American people. Either we can play politics or we can take these studies seriously and… …   New idioms dictionary

  • play politics — phrasal 1. : to act from considerations of partisan political advantage rather than principle or the general interest refused to play politics with foreign policy A.E.Stevenson †1965 2. : to seek to gain one s ends by scheming or intrigue play… …   Useful english dictionary

  • play\ politics — v. phr. To make secret agreements for your own gain; handle different groups for your own advantage. In order to get elected, he had to play politics with both the unions and the bosses. Mary always gets what she wants by playing office politics …   Словарь американских идиом

  • play politics with something — play politics (with (something)) to make something into a political issue. She accused her opponent of playing politics with affirmative action in an attempt to divide the American people. Either we can play politics or we can take these studies… …   New idioms dictionary

  • play politics with — play politics (with (something)) to make something into a political issue. She accused her opponent of playing politics with affirmative action in an attempt to divide the American people. Either we can play politics or we can take these studies… …   New idioms dictionary

  • play politics — to use politics for your own reasons, without caring about the effects on other people She accused the Prime Minister of playing politics with people s jobs …   English dictionary

  • play politics — gov idi a) to engage in political intrigue b) to deal with people in an opportunistic or manipulative way, as for job advancement …   From formal English to slang

  • play — playingly, adv. playless, adj. playlike, adj. /play/, n. 1. a dramatic composition or piece; drama. 2. a dramatic performance, as on the stage. 3. exercise or activity for amusement or recreation. 4. fun or jest, as opposed to seriousness: I said …   Universalium

  • politics — n. 1) to go in for politics 2) to play politics 3) to talk politics 4) local, parish pump (BE); national; partisan, party; power; practical politics * * * [ pɒlɪtɪks] national partisan party power practical politics …   Combinatory dictionary

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