play at

To perform music or take part in a game at a particular place.

• We play at school.
• The band played at a small club.
• Will your team play at home on Saturday?

How to use it: play at + place (The band will play at the town hall.)

Common phrases: play at home, play at school, play at festivals

To pretend to have a particular job or role as part of a game.

• The children play at pirates.
• We played at being astronauts.
• She likes playing at being a teacher.

How to use it: play at being someone (The children played at being shopkeepers.); play at something (We used to play at doctors.)

Similar words: make believe, pretend

Common phrases: play at pirates, play at doctors, play at teaching

Used in an angry question to ask why someone is behaving badly or doing something foolish.

• What are you playing at?
• What on earth was he playing at, driving so fast?
• She demanded to know what we were playing at.

How to use it: What are you playing at? (You nearly hit that cyclist! What are you playing at?); What do you think you are playing at? (What do you think you are playing at, leaving the door unlocked?)

Common phrases: what you play at, what they play at

To do something without taking it seriously or making a real effort.

• He only plays at farming.
• She accused them of playing at business.
• Are you studying properly or just playing at being a student?

How to use it: play at doing something (He plays at running a business but rarely works.); play at something (They are just playing at politics.)

Similar words: dabble in, toy with

Common phrases: play at politics, play at business, play at farming