playing fast and loose

Verb

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

1. (idiomatic) To ignore proper behavior or social conventions, especially when it suits one's purpose.
   • I cannot say that there were any outright lies in the editorial, but it does play fast and loose with the truth.
2. (idiomatic) To be recklessly inaccurate, inappropriate, or otherwise ignoring guidelines and conventions.
3. (idiomatic) To act in a tricky, inconstant way, saying one thing and doing another.