John is doing exactly what I hoped he would. He's playing into my hands.
•John played into my hands by taking the cash he found in my desk. I caught him and had him arrested.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
play into someone's hands — If you play into someone s hands, you do what they were expecting you to do and take advantage of this … The small dictionary of idiomes
play into someone's hands — play into (someone s) hands to do something that gives someone else an advantage over you, although this was not your intention. If we allow terrorists to disrupt our lives to that extent we re just playing into their hands … New idioms dictionary
play into someone's hands — ► play into someone s hands act in such a way as unintentionally to give someone an advantage. Main Entry: ↑play … English terms dictionary
play into someone's hands — act in such a way as unintentionally to give someone an advantage * * * play into someone s hands see ↑play, 1 • • • Main Entry: ↑hand play into someone s hands (or play into the hands of someone) : to do something that you do not realize will… … Useful english dictionary
play into someone's hands — If you play into someone s hands, you do what they were expecting you to do and take advantage of this. (Dorking School Dictionary) *** If you play into someone s hands, you do exactly what your opponent or enemy wants you to do, so… … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
play into someone's hands — act in such a way as unintentionally to give someone an advantage. → play … English new terms dictionary
play into someone's hands — act in a way that gives someone else an advantage … English contemporary dictionary
play (straight) into someone's hands — play (right/straight) into someone’s hands phrase to do something that helps someone who you are competing against You’ll be playing straight into their hands if you involve the police. Thesaurus: to make a mistake, or to do something… … Useful english dictionary
play (right) into someone's hands — play (right/straight) into someone’s hands phrase to do something that helps someone who you are competing against You’ll be playing straight into their hands if you involve the police. Thesaurus: to make a mistake, or to do something… … Useful english dictionary
play into one's hands — do something that gives someone else an advantage If you walk out of the meeting in anger you will only be playing into his hands … Idioms and examples
play into hands — play into (someone s) hands to do something that gives someone else an advantage over you, although this was not your intention. If we allow terrorists to disrupt our lives to that extent we re just playing into their hands … New idioms dictionary
