play on
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle on
Meanings
Take advantage of someone's weakness or fear
Why “on”? An action is directed onto a person, thing or weakness as its target.
“The ad plays on parents' fears.”
“The advert plays on fear of illness.”
Don't confuse with
Test yourself
“The ad plays on parents' fears.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
play out
A contrast learners often mix up
Develop or unfold over time
play up
A contrast learners often mix up
Cause problems by misbehaving or malfunctioning; Act in a way that pleases someone or a group
cheat on
Same on pattern: target
Be unfaithful to a partner
dote on
Same on pattern: target
Show extreme affection toward someone
fall on
Same on pattern: target
Attack someone fiercely
feast on
Same on pattern: target
Eat a large amount of a particular food with enjoyment
feed on
Same on pattern: target
Eat a particular food regularly
frown on
Same on pattern: target
Disapprove of something
Practice “play on” in Sink In
Drill this and 600+ phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by particle.