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to play at
[phrase form: play]
01
to do something in an unserious manner and without dedication
Transitive: to play at sth
Examples
She's playing at writing her book, starting and stopping sporadically without a clear plan.
He 's not genuinely interested in becoming a chef; he 's just playing at it for now.
02
to express confusion or annoyance about someone's actions, often implying that their motives or intentions are unclear or not genuine
Transitive: to play at sth
Examples
She left without any explanation. What does she think she 's playing at?
He gave a vague reply and then went silent. Seriously, what 's he playing at?
03
to pretend to be a different person or take on a different character role while playing a game
Transitive: to play at doing sth
Examples
They used to play at being superheroes in the backyard, creating their own imaginative adventures.
During the school play, she got to play at being a queen, wearing a crown and sitting on a makeshift throne.
