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play out

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phrasal verb
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theyplay out
he/she/itplays out
present participleplaying out
past tenseplayed out
past participleplayed out

Related dictionary definitions

  1. 1
    [intransitive/transitive] to develop or end in a particular way

    They disagreed violently, and no one knew how the situation would play out.

  2. 2
    [transitive] [always passive] if an event or situation is played out in a particular way, it happens in that way

    His career as a writer was played out against a background of alcoholism.

  3. 3
    [transitive] if you play out a situation, you pretend that it is really happening

    Children often play out quite violent scenes.

  4. 4
    [transitive] play out something to continue to play a sport until the end of a particular period

    She played out the rest of her career in America.

See also main entry: play

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using the Internet where you work, during working hours, for activities which are not work-related

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mixed together in a way that is not planned, organized, or tidy

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show a bit of ankle

… to reveal a small part of your intentions in order to attract support, without actually committing yourself to doing anything

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