Play on Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈpɫeɪ/ /ˈɑn/, /ˈɔn

PLAY-on

UK

plˈeɪ/ /ˈɒn

PLAY-on

释义

To use a word or idea with two meanings for humor or effect, or to take advantage of something such as an emotion or situation.

用法与细微差别

Often used in humorous or rhetorical contexts, e.g., 'play on words' = pun. Can mean to exploit emotions or circumstances subtly. 'Play on' is different from 'play' (to engage in games or activities) and is often followed by 'words', 'emotions', or 'fears'.

• Spanish: jugar con - aprovechar (sentido figurado) - hacer un juego de palabras
• Portuguese (BR): brincar sobre - fazer trocadilho - explorar (sentido figurado)
• Portuguese (PT): brincar com - fazer um trocadilho - explorar (sentido figurado)
• Chinese (Simplified): 利用（双关语/隐喻等）- 调侃 - 玩弄
• Chinese (Traditional): 利用（雙關語/隱喻等）- 調侃 - 玩弄
• Hindi: का इस्तेमाल करना (शब्दों/भावनाओं के साथ) - मज़ाक करना
• Arabic: يلعب على - يستغل (المعاني/الكلمات) - يمازح
• Bengali: শব্দের খেলা - অনুভূতির সুযোগ নেওয়া - পরিস্থিতির সুযোগ নেওয়া
• Russian: игра слов - играть на чувствах - играть на ситуации
• Japanese: 言葉遊び - 感情に付け込む - 状況を利用する
• Vietnamese: chơi chữ - lợi dụng cảm xúc - lợi dụng tình huống
• Korean: 말장난 - 감정을 이용하다 - 상황을 이용하다
• Turkish: kelime oyunu - duygularla oynamak - durumu kullanmak
• Urdu: لفظی چال - جذبات سے کھیلنا - صورتِ حال کا فائدہ اٹھانا
• Indonesian: permainan kata - memanfaatkan emosi - memanfaatkan situasi

例句

He made a joke that was a play on words.

basic

The advertisement tries to play on people's fears.

basic

She loves to play on words when she writes poems.

basic

The politician's speech seemed to play on public anger.

natural

That movie title is a clever play on words.

natural

Mark loves to play on his friends' emotions to get what he wants.

natural