play on

Verb

play on (third-person singular simple present plays on, present participle playing on, simple past and past participle played on)

1. (also 'play upon') To exploit (a potential weakness or vulnerability) by exacerbating.
   • to play on someone's fears
2. (also 'play upon') To exploit (a double meaning, similarity in sound, etc.) for humorous or creative effect.
   • This joke plays on the fact that 'thirsty' sounds similar to 'Thursday'.
3. (also 'play upon') To impinge upon in a recurring or nagging way.
   • to play on one's mind, or conscience
4. (also 'play upon') To frequently allude to or return to as a theme.
   • The pamphlet plays on the idea that all social conflict is class-based.
5. to hit the ball into his own wicket, thus being out bowled
6. (intransitive) To let the game continue after a foul has been committed, because the situation is advantageous to the team who would be awarded a foul.
7. (transitive, sports such as soccer) To cause (an opposing player) to be onside rather than offside due to one's position on the field of play.
   • The ref said that Smith was offside, but I think that Jones played him on.
8. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, on.
   • I knew I was losing, but I played on anyways.