play off: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Informal; formal in sports contexts.
Quick answer
What does “play off” mean?
To set two or more people, groups, or things against each other for one's own advantage.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To set two or more people, groups, or things against each other for one's own advantage; to manipulate a situation of rivalry.
A series of games or matches to determine an overall winner, especially after a league or as a tiebreaker; a final or deciding contest.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Noun form: BrE prefers hyphenated 'play-off', AmE favors solid 'playoff'. Spelling in verb form is consistently two words. In sports, 'playoffs' (plural) is more common in AmE for postseason tournaments.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties, though AmE sports usage is more prevalent in global media.
Frequency
Higher frequency in AmE due to major sports leagues (NBA, NFL playoffs). In BrE, common in football (EFL play-offs) and business/political commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “play off” in a Sentence
[Subject] play [Object 1] off against [Object 2][Subject] play off [Object 1] and [Object 2]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “play off” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The boss tried to play the two junior managers off against each other.
- She's adept at playing off her suitors to get better gifts.
American English
- The senator played the two lobbying groups off against one another.
- He played his siblings off to get the bigger room.
adjective
British English
- The play-off final is at Wembley Stadium.
- They secured a play-off place on the last day.
American English
- The playoff game will be on national TV.
- He scored a playoff-record number of points.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Managers might play departments off against each other to increase productivity.
Academic
Used in political science to describe strategies of dividing opponents.
Everyday
Describing siblings competing for parental attention.
Technical
In sports, a knockout tournament to decide a champion after the regular season.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “play off”
Strong
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “play off”
- Using 'play off' without 'against' for the manipulative sense (e.g., 'He played them off' – ambiguous). Confusing 'play off' (verb) with 'playoff' (noun) in writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun, both 'play-off' (BrE) and 'playoff' (AmE) are correct. As a verb, it's always two words: 'play off'.
Yes, in sports it neutrally means to compete in a deciding game or series. The manipulative sense is primarily social/political.
'Play off' involves setting parties against each other or a decisive contest. 'Play out' means to unfold, happen, or perform to the end (e.g., 'Let's see how the situation plays out').
The pattern is: [Subject] + play + [Person/Group A] + off against + [Person/Group B]. Example: 'She played her suppliers off against each other for lower prices.'
To set two or more people, groups, or things against each other for one's own advantage.
Play off is usually neutral to informal; formal in sports contexts. in register.
Play off: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpleɪ ˈɒf/ (verb); /ˈpleɪɒf/ (noun), and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpleɪ ˈɔːf/ (verb); /ˈpleɪɔːf/ (noun). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “play one against the other”
- “a playoff for all the marbles”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PLAYground where two kids are pushed OFF against each other in a race by a third.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS WAR (manipulating conflicts as a strategic battle).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'play off' used as a noun?