Phrases.com »

Phrases related to: play on words

Yee yee! We've found 382 phrases and idioms matching play on words.

Sort:RelevancyA - Z
a picture is worth a thousand wordsAlternative form of a picture paints a thousand words.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
a picture paints a thousand wordsA visualisation is a better description than a verbal description.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
a Tinkers DamnDemeaning Words in Deprecating Ejaculation, to wit; "He'll Never Amount To A 'Tinker's Damn!"Rate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
à vous le déIt is your turn to play (at dice). [See Avoir.]Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
absent le chat, les souris dansentwhen the cat's away the mice will playRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
absque hocThe technical words of denial used in denying what has been alleged.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
act as tourch bearerWhen someone play significant role in others lifeRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
act outTo go through the process of a scene from a play, a charade or a pointless exercise.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
actions speak louder than wordsIt is more effective to act directly than to speak of action.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
Add Fuel to the FireTo boost up one’s anger or trouble more with your deeds or words, when he/she is already facing worst situationRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
against the run of playContrary to the flow of the game.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
airmailTo throw the ball well over a fielder's head where that fielder is unable to make a play on the ball.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
all the world's a stagePeople have roles to play in life just as actors do in the theatre.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
all work and no play makes jack a dull boyToo much focus on one's career is often viewed unfavorably.Too much hard work and not enough leisure time can be unhealthy.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
and don't play one on TVA term often used after a person claims to have no expertise in a topic of discussion, but still wants to contribute a comment.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
ante upTo pay a fee necessary to play a game, typically a card gameRate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
Appendix:Snowclones/if Eskimos have N words for snow, X have Y words for ZUsed to suggest by analogy that Y has frequent interaction with Z or spends substantial time thinking about Z. Often used with other language, country or region stereotypes.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
Appendix:Snowclones/in X, no one can hear you YIndicates a threat of imminent danger. X is often limited to words having something to do with space. Y is a sound made by humans, especially 'scream'.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
at a loss for wordsHaving nothing to say; stunned to the point of speechlessness.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
autrement ditIn other wordsRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
avoir des raisons avec quelqu'unTo have words with any one; To quarrel with any one.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
beyond wordsIn recalling an incident, in observing an accident, any or all of which can be disastrous and shocking. A destructive fire and explosion may leave one awestruck and beyond words to describe.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
beyond wordsDisbeliefRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
Bite Your TongueTo hold ones words or to have control over what one is willing to say, to being ashamed of something that has been said or trying not to say itRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
blanket termA word or phrase that is used to describe multiple groups of related things. The degree of relation may vary. Blanket terms often trade specificity for ease-of-use; in other words, a blanket term by itself gives little detail about the things that it describes or the relationships between them, but is easy to say and remember. Blanket terms often originate as slang, and eventually become integrated into the general vocabulary.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
bleep outTo censor inappropriate spoken words by obscuring them with the sound of a bleep.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
break a leg!This is a common English phrase that is used to wish someone good luck before they perform in a play or other event.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
breviter, paucis explicare aliquidto explain a matter briefly, in a few words (not paucis verbis).Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
bug outMiss school, play truant, play hooky.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
Bull in a China ShopAn awkward person who actually does not care about the delicate situation, a rough person who comes near the brittle things, an insensitive person who makes people angry with his/her deeds and words to create disturbance in their work or plansRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
bunk offTo play truant.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
bygones be bygones, and fair play for time to comeLet all past wrongs be forgotten, with a resumption of cordial relations.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
c'est l'air qui fait la chansonWords depend much on the tone in which they are spoken; It is not so much what you say as the way in which you say it.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
can't put the words back into one's mouth fast enoughThis phrase is often said after someone said something they shouldn't have said as a way of conveying regret for having said it.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
casual expressiona word in the dictionary that has an alternate definition than the dictionary definition or a phrase that means something different than its words put together would literally mean when put togetherRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
catch someone's driftIf you catch someone's drift (or get someone's drift) it means you understand what they mean; this phrase is used especially when you want to get an idea across to someone but you don't want to exactly speak the words you mean or if you think the listener may be confused about what you meanRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
cet homme casse les vitresThat man speaks out boldly, to bring matters to a crisis; That man does not pick and choose his words.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
Chickens Come Home to RoostCertain words or actions, which carry evil intentions, always haunt a person - who uses them or carries them outRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
child's playSomething particularly simple or easy.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
close of playThe end of a day's playRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
close of playThe end of the final game (not to be confused with set or match) during a day at the All England Tennis Championships (Wimbledon)Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
close of playThe end of the working dayRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
Come AgainTo ask someone to repeat something, as words or tone delivered earlier were not clear enoughRate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
come stàAn instruction to play without improvised ornamentation or rhythmic alteration.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
copia, ubertas verborumprofusion of words.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
crack-upOne can 'crack-up' emotionally with laughter or tears as a result of an observation, a joke, a story, a scene, a sequence in a movie, opera, stage play or animal, baby or children;s antics:Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
curtain-raiserIn a theater, an initial play, musical performance, etc which precedes the main performance.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
deadNot in play.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
des mots longs d'une toiseWords as long as your arm.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
dici vix (non) potest or vix potest dici (vix like non always before potest)I cannot find words for...Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)

We need you!

Help us build the largest human-edited phrases collection on the web!

Alternative searches for play on words:

Quiz

Are you a phrases master?

»
She's a real ___________ in the rough, that one.
A jewel
B diamond
C ruby
D gem

Browse Phrases.com