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to play dead
01
to fake death by lying on the ground without moving
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "play dead" and when to use it?
The origin of the idiom "play dead" can be traced back to the animal kingdom, particularly to the behavior of certain prey animals when faced with a predator. The phrase signifies the act of feigning death or immobility as a defensive strategy to deceive or confuse the predator. By appearing lifeless, the prey hopes to discourage further pursuit or attack. This phrase is mostly used metaphorically to describe situations where someone acts as if they are uninvolved, unaware, or unaffected by a particular situation or conflict.
Example
When the teacher asked for volunteers, none of the students wanted to participate, so they all played dead by avoiding eye contact.
The child was scared of the monster under the bed and decided to play dead, hoping it would go away.
When confronted by the aggressive dog, the cat decided to play dead, hoping the dog would lose interest and leave.
In order to avoid being caught, the thief played dead by lying motionless on the ground until the police passed by.
During the argument, he chose to play dead, refusing to engage in the heated exchange.
