| Phrasal verbs |
WordReference English-Greek Dictionary © 2026:
| play a role in [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (act a part in) | παίζω έναν ρόλο σε κτ έκφρ |
| | | παίζω σε κτ ρ αμ + πρόθ |
| | My brother's playing a role in the new production of The Phantom of the Opera. |
| | My brother is playing a role in the new theatre production. |
| play about vi phrasal | UK, informal (behave in a frivolous way) | χαζολογώ, χαζεύω ρ αμ |
| | Since we have a lot of work to do, there isn't any time to play about. |
| play against [sth/sb] vtr phrasal insep | (have as an opponent) | παίζω εναντίον κπ/κτ, παίζω με αντίπαλο κπ/κτ έκφρ |
| | | παίζω με κπ/κτ ρ μ + πρόθ |
| | Every time I play against Tom, he beats me in every game. |
| play along vi phrasal | (music: play accompaniment) (κπ με μουσικό όργανο) | συνοδεύω ρ μ |
| | Joanna sang while Keith played along on the guitar. |
| | Η Τζοάνα τραγουδούσε ενώ ο Κιθ τη συνόδευε με την κιθάρα. |
| play along vi phrasal | figurative, informal (feign co-operation) | το συνεχίζω έκφρ |
| | | ακολουθώ ρ αμ |
| | (κάποιον ή κάτι) | ακολουθώ ρ μ |
| | (σε κάτι) | συμμετέχω ρ αμ |
| | Leo wanted me to join in when he pranked our teacher, but I refused to play along. |
| | Ο Λίο ήθελε να συμμετέχω όταν έκανε φάρσα στον δάσκαλό μας, αλλά αρνήθηκα να το συνεχίσω. |
| play along with [sth/sb] vi phrasal + prep | figurative, informal (feign co-operation with) (μεταφορικά) | πάω με τα νερά κπ έκφρ |
| | | κάνω πως συμφωνώ με κπ περίφρ |
| | I don't always do what my mother suggests, but I play along with her plans to make her happy. |
| play around vi phrasal | informal (experiment) | κάνω δοκιμές περίφρ |
| | (μεταφορικά) | παίζω ρ αμ |
| | I was just playing around to see if I could get the webcam to work. |
| play around vi phrasal | informal (be frivolous) (μεταφορικά) | παίζω ρ αμ |
| | | σαχλαμαρίζω, χαζολογάω ρ αμ |
| | Quit playing around and get back to work! |
| play around vi phrasal | informal (be unfaithful) (αργκό) | της/του τα φοράω έκφρ |
| | (καθομιλουμένη) | κάνω απιστία περίφρ |
| | | είμαι άπιστος ρ έκφρ |
| | Jodie dumped Greg when she found out he had been playing around. |
| play around with [sth] vtr phrasal insep | informal (tamper) | πειράζω ρ μ |
| | | παίζω με κτ, ανακατεύομαι με κτ ρ αμ + πρόθ |
| | Someone has been playing around with the projector and now it doesn't work. |
| play around with [sth] vtr phrasal insep | informal (amuse yourself) | παίζω με κτ ρ αμ + πρόθ |
| | The dog was playing around with a stick he'd found on the ground. |
| play at [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (pretend, make believe [sth]) | παριστάνω, προσποιούμαι, καμώνομαι ρ μ |
| | The children are playing at doctors and nurses. |
| | Τα παιδιά παριστάνουν τους γιατρούς και τις νοσοκόμες. |
play [sth] back,
play back [sth] vtr phrasal sep | (replay) | παίζω κτ play back έκφρ |
| | Thomas recorded himself playing guitar and then played the song back. |
| play [sth] by ear vtr phrasal sep | (music: not follow a score) (μεταφορικά) | παίζω με το αφτί έκφρ |
| | I read music well, but I have a hard time playing by ear. He's amazing; he never learned to read music, he just plays by ear. |
| play [sth] down vtr phrasal sep | informal (minimize significance of) | υποτιμώ ρ μ |
| | (εσκεμμένα, τη σημασία) | υποβαθμίζω ρ μ |
| | | δε δίνω τόση σημασία σε κτ, κάνω κτ να φανεί λιγότερο σημαντικό περίφρ |
| | In my job interview I played down my previous failures and emphasized my successes. |
| | Στην συνέντευξή μου για δουλειά δεν έδωσα τόση σημασία στις προηγούμενες αποτυχίες μου και τόνισα στις επιτυχίες μου. |
| play for [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (sports: represent) (για χώρα) | παίζω για κτ ρ μ + πρόθ |
| | (σε ομάδα) | παίζω σε κτ ρ μ + πρόθ |
| | David Beckham played for his country. |
| play for [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (compete for prize) | παίζω για κτ ρ αμ + πρόθ |
| | The top three teams in the league are all playing for the title. |
| play [sb/sth] off [sb/sth] vtr phrasal sep | (set against: [sth] else) | φέρνω σε κόντρα κπ/κτ με κπ/κτ έκφρ |
| | | βάζω κπ να τσακωθεί με κπ έκφρ |
| | The capricious girl played off one suitor against the other. |
| play off vi phrasal | (sport: resolve a tied score) | παίζω νοκ άουτ αγώνα περίφρ |
| | The two teams will play off for the division title. |
| play on vi phrasal | (continue to make music) | συνεχίζω να παίζω μοσυική ρ μ |
| | The orchestra is said to have played on as the Titanic was sinking. |
| play on [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (exploit) | εκμεταλλεύομαι ρ μ |
| | Many confidence tricksters play on the sympathy of their victims. |
| play [sth] out vtr phrasal sep | (enact) | παίζω ρ μ |
| | The director made the actors play the scene out again with a slightly different emphasis. |
| play out vi phrasal | (proceed to the end) | εξελίσσομαι ρ αμ |
| | | εκτυλίσσομαι ρ αμ |
| | (στο τέλος) | καταλήγω ρ αμ |
| | Nobody knows how this little drama will play out. |
| | Κανείς δεν ξέρει πως θα εξελιχθεί αυτό το μικρό δράμα. |
| Σύνθετοι τύποι: |
WordReference English-Greek Dictionary © 2026:
| bring [sth] into play⇒ vtr | (align, line [sth] up) | χρησιμοποιώ ρ μ |
| | (μεταφορικά) | βάζω κτ στο παιχνίδι έκφρ |
| Σχόλιο: δεν υπάρχει ακριβής αντιστοιχία |
| | Artillery was brought into play and this caused the enemy to retreat. |
byplay,
by-play n | (incidental onstage action) (θέατρο) | παράλληλη δράση επίθ + ουσ θηλ |
| play cat and mouse with [sb] v expr | (toy with [sb]) | κάνω κπ το παιχνιδάκι μου περίφρ |
| | | παίζω με κπ ρ αμ + πρόθ |
| play cat and mouse with [sb] v expr | (use strategy on opponent) | παίζω τη γάτα και το ποντίκι με κπ έκφρ |
| child's play n | figurative ([sth] very easy) (μεταφορικά) | εύκολη δουλειά έκφρ |
| | (μεταφορικά,καθομιλουμένη) | παιχνιδάκι ουσ ουδ |
| | I finished the crossword puzzle very quickly; it was child's play. |
| come into play vi | (become involved) (μεταφορικά) | μπαίνω στο παιχνίδι έκφρ |
| | Tiredness comes into play near the end of a race. |
| do your part v expr | mainly US (contribute, participate) | παίζω ρόλο έκφρ |
| | (μεταφορικά) | βάζω το λιθαράκι μου έκφρ |
| | Martha did her part to make the event a success. |
| double play n | (baseball) (μπέιζμπολ) | διπλό άουτ επίθ + ουσ ουδ άκλ |
| dramatic play n | (role playing for fun, esp. by children) | θεατρικό παιχνίδι επίθ + ουσ ουδ |
play ducks and drakes with [sth],
make ducks and drakes of [sth] v expr | figurative (squander, handle recklessly) (μεταφορικά) | παίζω κτ κορώνα γράμματα έκφρ |
| | | παίζω με κτ ρ αμ + πρόθ |
| fair play n | (sportsmanship, fairness) | τίμιο παιχνίδι ουσ ουδ |
| | The concept of fair play is very important in the Olympics. Technically I win by default, but in the spirit of fair play I'll reschedule the match. |
| foul play n | (illegal act) | παρανομία ουσ θηλ |
| | | εγκληματική πράξη επίθ + ουσ θηλ |
| | The senator died in a car crash, but foul play is suspected. |
| foul play n | (unfair conduct) | ατιμία ουσ θηλ |
| | (καθομιλουμένη) | βρωμοδουλειά ουσ θηλ |
| free play n | (unstructured playtime for children) | ελεύθερο παιχνίδι επίθ + ουσ ουδ |
| free play n | (unrestricted conduct, as by a business) | ελεύθερο πεδίο φρ ως ουσ ουδ |
free play,
freeplay n | (concept in literary theory) | ελεύθερο παιχνίδι επίθ + ουσ ουδ |
| hand play n | (sexual touching) | ερωτικό άγγιγμα έκφρ |
| | The couple were enjoying some hand play. |
| in play adj | (ball: not out) | μέσα επίρ |
| | | που δεν έχει βγει άουτ περίφρ |
| | The ball was in play when the winger crossed it for the centre forward to score. |
| in play adj | figurative (active) (ανεπίσημο) | που παίζει περίφρ |
| | (καθομ, μεταφορικά) | στο παιχνίδι περίφρ |
| | Lowering the interest rate is among ideas that are still in play. |
| | Η μείωση των επιτοκίων είναι ανάμεσα στις ιδέες που παίζουν ακόμα. |
| in play adv | (as a joke) | για πλάκα περίφρ |
| | | ως αστείο περίφρ |
| | (επίσημο) | χάριν αστεϊσμού περίφρ |
| | The comment was made in play and not intended to offend anyone. |
| it's child's play expr | (it's extremely easy) | είναι παιχνιδάκι έκφρ |
| | (αργκό) | είναι της πλάκας έκφρ |
| | It's so easy to do -- it's child's play, really. |
Let's Play,
LP n | (video game) | let's play ουσ ουδ άκλ |
| Σχόλιο: Πρόκειται για βίντεο με στιγμιότυπα παιχνιδιού εν ώρα δράσης του παίκτη. |
long play record,
long-play record n | (12-inch vinyl record) | δίσκος βινυλίου έκφρ |
| | I don't think you can find long play records any more. |
| out of play expr | (sports: outside boundary) | εκτός γηπέδου έκφρ |
| passion play n | (drama depicting Christ's suffering) | Αναπαράσταση των Παθών ουσ θηλ |
| | Passion Plays are traditionally staged at Easter. |
| play a CD v expr | abbr (put on a compact disc) | βάζω ένα σι-ντι έκφρ |
| | Olga decided to play a CD while she was driving the car. |
| play a part v expr | (act) (σε κτ) | παίζω ρ αμ |
| | | παίρνω μέρος περίφρ |
| | | συμμετέχω ρ αμ |
| | I'd like to play a part in the school musical, so I'm going to audition. |
| play a part in [sth] v expr | (participate) | συμμετέχω σε κτ ρ αμ + πρόθ |
| | | παίζω κάποιο ρόλο σε κτ έκφρ |
| | This was a real community effort, nearly everyone here played a part in creating the newsletter. |
| play a part in [sth] v expr | (be partly responsible) | παίζω ρόλο σε κτ έκφρ |
| | Oliver's tendency to trust people too easily played a part in his downfall. |
| play a role v expr | (act a part) | παίζω ρόλο, συμμετέχω ρ μ |
| | Several Nixon loyalists played a role in the Watergate scandal. |
| | Αρκετοί υποστηρικτές του Νίξον έπαιξαν ρόλο στο σκάνδαλο Γουοτεργκέιτ. |
| play a tune v expr | (music: perform a melody) | παίζω μια μελωδία ρ μ |
| | Suzan taught me to play a tune on the piano. |
| | Η Σούζαν με δίδαξε να παίζω μια μελωδία στο πιάνο. |
| play [sth] according to the rules v expr | (game, sports) | παίζω σύμφωνα με τους κανόνες περίφρ |
| | | τηρώ τους κανονισμούς περίφρ |
| | Play the game according to the rules outlined below. |
play according to the rules,
play by the rules v expr | (game, sports) | παίζω σύμφωνα με τους κανόνες περίφρ |
| | | τηρώ τους κανονισμούς περίφρ |
| | At the beginning of the game, the referee reminded the players to play by the rules. |
play according to the rules,
play by the rules v expr | figurative (behave fairly) | παίζω σύμφωνα με τους κανόνες περίφρ |
| | It's best to play according to the rules if you want to get on at work. |
| play [sth] again vtr + adv | (live music: perform again) | ξανάπαίζω ρ μ |
| | My wife really likes that tune, so I'm going to ask the band to play it again before we leave. |
| play [sth] again vtr + adv | (recorded music: put on again) | ξανάπαίζω ρ μ |
| | Even though the CD is really old, the kids want to play it again. |
| play area n | (designated zone for children's play) | παιδική χαρά φρ ως ουσ θηλ |
| | The children have a play area well away from the main road. |
| play ball vtr + n | (throw, catch a ball) | παίζω με τη μπάλα περίφρ |
| | (παλαιότερος τύπος) | παίζω τόπι περίφρ |
| | Shall we play ball in the park? |
| | Θες να παίξουμε με τη μπάλα στο πάρκο; |
| play ball with [sb] v expr | (throw, catch a ball with [sb]) | παίζω με τη μπάλα με κπ περίφρ |
| | (παλαιότερος τύπος) | παίζω τόπι με κπ περίφρ |
| | My son often plays ball with the boy from next door. |
| play ball vtr + n | figurative (co-operate) | συνεργάζομαι ρ αμ |
| | The deal's off - John won't play ball. |
| | Η συμφωνία είναι άκυρη. Ο Τζον δε συνεργάζεται. |
| play ball with [sb] v expr | figurative (co-operate with [sb]) | συνεργάζομαι με κπ ρ αμ + πρόθ |
| | The company needs smart people who can play ball with our software development team. |
| play button n | (control pressed to [sth] start) | κουμπί play, πλήκτρο play φρ ως ουσ ουδ |
| | | play ουσ ουδ άκλ |
| | The slide show is all set up for you to use; just press the play button when you're ready to start. |
| play catch-up vtr + n | informal (get updated) | μαθαίνω τα νέα έκφρ |
| | Julia wanted to play catch-up and find out what had happened while she had been away. |
| play catch-up vtr + n | informal (do work missed due to illness) (δουλειά, διάβασμα) | αναπληρώνω ρ μ |
| | I had to play catch-up after being away from work on sick leave. |
| play chicken vtr + n | (test courage) | δοκιμάζω τα όριά μου έκφρ |
| Σχόλιο: Δεν υπάρχει ακριβής αντιστοιχία. |
| | The teenagers played chicken in their cars, driving directly towards one another. |
play date,
playdate n | (time for children to play together) | συνάντηση για παιχνίδι φρ ως ουσ θηλ |
| | | ραντεβού για παιχνίδι φρ ως ουσ ουδ |
| | (καθομιλουμένη) | play date ουσ ουδ άκλ |
| Σχόλιο: Δεν υπάρχει ακριβής αντιστοιχία. |
| | Because her daughter is an only child, Hannah likes to organize lots of play dates for her. |
| play dead vi + adj | (lie as though dead) | παριστάνω τον πεθαμένο, παριστάνω τον νεκρό περίφρ |
| | | προσποιούμαι ότι είμαι νεκρός περίφρ |
| | Some animals play dead as a way of defending themselves when they are in danger. |
| play dirty v expr | informal, figurative (use unfair or dishonest tactics) (μεταφορικά, καθομ) | παίζω βρόμικα ρ αμ + επίρ |
| | (μεταφορικά, καθομ) | παίζω βρόμικο παιχνίδι έκφρ |
| | If he continues to play dirty, they will disqualify him from the match. |
| play down the importance of [sth] v expr | (minimize significance of) (με γενική) | υποβαθμίζω τη σημασία, υποβαθμίζω τη σπουδαιότητα περίφρ |
| | | κάνω κτ να φαίνεται λιγότερο σημαντικό περίφρ |
| | We are trying to play down the importance of standardized tests in our school. |
| play dumb v expr | informal (feign ignorance) | κάνω ότι δεν ξέρω, κάνω τον ανίδεο, κάνω το χαζό έκφρ |
| | (μεταφορικά, καθομιλουμένη) | κάνω την πάπια έκφρ |
| | Phil played dumb when his dad asked him if he knew who had broken the window. |
| play fair vi | (games: be sporting) | παίζω δίκαια ρ αμ + επίρ |
| | (ζαργκόν: αθλητικά) | τηρώ το fair play περίφρ |
| | It's the referee's job to ensure that both teams play fair. |
| play fair vi | figurative (behave by the rules) (μεταφορικά: σε παιχνίδι) | δεν κλέβω έκφρ |
| | Hey, play fair! Take that ace out of your sleeve right now! |
| play fast and loose with [sth] v expr | slang (do [sth] recklessly) | δεν παίρνω κτ στα σοβαρά έκφρ |
| | | παίζω κτ κορόνα γράμματα έκφρ |
| play fast and loose with [sth] v expr | slang (do [sth] deceitfully) | δεν είμαι ειλικρινής για κτ έκφρ |
play favorites (US),
play favourites (UK) v expr | (show partiality) | κάνω αδικίες, κάνω διακρίσεις περίφρ |
| | | δεν είμαι δίκαιος περίφρ |
| | My boss plays favorites; his buddies get the plum assignments, and the rest of us get the menial work. |
| play fetch vtr + n | informal (dog: retrieve a thrown ball) | πετάω τη μπάλα και μου τη φέρνει πίσω περίφρ |
| | | φέρε τη μπάλα έκφρ |
| Σχόλιο: Δεν υπάρχει αντίστοιχος όρος. Το «φέρε τη μπάλα» είναι η εντολή, η οποία μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί και ως όνομα του παιχνιδιού. |
| | Try playing fetch with your dog every morning. |
| play for time v expr | (delay [sth]) | κερδίζω χρόνο έκφρ |
| | | καθυστερώ ρ μ |
| play games vtr + npl | informal, figurative (be inconsistent) (μεταφορικά) | παίζω ρ αμ |
| | (καθομιλουμένη, μεταφορικά) | παίζω παιχνίδια, κάνω παιχνιδάκια έκφρ |
| | I wish Derek would stop playing games and make a clear decision about what he intends to do. |
| play games vtr + npl | (do sports, activities) (κυριολεκτικά) | παίζω ρ αμ |
| | The children spent the afternoon playing games. |
| | Τα παιδιά πέρασαν το απόγευμά τους παίζοντας. |
| play God v expr | figurative (make life-and-death decisions) (μεταφορικά) | παριστάνω τον Θεό ρ μ |
| | Ivan opposes euthanasia because he believes that nobody has the right to play God. |
| play gooseberry vtr + n | UK, figurative, informal (be unwanted extra person) (σε ζευγάρι) | κρατάω το φανάρι έκφρ |
| | (γενικά) | είμαι παρείσακτος ρ έκφρ |
| | Lisa did not want to play gooseberry on another couple's date. |
| play hard to get v expr | (act aloof toward potential mate) (άντρας) | το παίζω δύσκολος έκφρ |
| | (γυναίκα) | το παίζω δύσκολη έκφρ |
| | David really wants Zoe to be his girlfriend, but she's always playing hard to get with him. |
| play hardball v expr | (be ruthless) | κάνω τα πάντα για να πετύχω τον σκοπό μου εκφρ |
| | | μεταχειρίζομαι κάθε μέσο έκφρ |
| | (μεταφορικά) | παίζω σκληρό παιχνίδι έκφρ |
| play havoc with [sth] v expr | (bring chaos to) (σε κτ) | προκαλώ το χάος, φέρνω χάος περίφρ |
| | (καθομιλουμένη: κάτι) | κάνω άνω-κάτω έκφρ |
| | The train strike is playing havoc with my travel plans. |
play hooky,
play hookey v expr | mainly US, informal (play truant, be absent from school) (καθομιλουμένη) | κάνω κοπάνα ρ μ + ουσ θηλ |
| | (καθομιλουμένη, παλαιό) | κάνω σκασιαρχείο ρ μ + ουσ ουδ |
| | I regret having played hooky in high school. |
| | Μετανιώνω που έκανα κοπάνες στο σχολείο. |
| play house vtr + n | US (children: pretend to be family) (παιχνίδι) | παίζω σπιτάκια περίφρ |
| | The children were playing house in the yard. |
play into the hands of [sb],
play into [sb]'s hands v expr | (give [sb] an advantage) | δουλεύω προς όφελος κπ έκφρ |
| | | ωφελώ ρ μ |
| play it by ear v expr | figurative (improvise) | βλέποντας και κάνοντας έκφρ |
| | (μεταφορικά) | αυτοσχεδιάζω ρ αμ |
| | (καθομιλουμένη: ελαφρώς αρνητικό) | κάνω ό,τι μου κατέβει έκφρ |
| | What will we do tomorrow? Let's play it by ear. |
| play jazz v expr | (make jazz music) | παίζω τζαζ ρ μ |
| Σχόλιο: τζαζ: ξενικό, άκλιτο |
| play mat n | (floor covering) | χαλάκι παιχνιδιού φρ ως ουσ ουδ |
| | | play mat ουσ ουδ άκλ |
| play music v expr | (make music, play an instrument) | παίζω μουσική ρ μ |
| play music v expr | (listen to recorded music) | βάζω μουσική ρ μ |
| play-off n | (series of games in championship) | play off ουσ ουδ άκλ |
| Σχόλιο: δεν υπάρχει ακριβής αντιστοιχία |
| | The Lakers didn't make it to the play-offs this year. |
| play on words n | (pun) | λογοπαίγνιο ουσ ουδ |
| | It wasn't serious, just a play on words. |
| play Russian roulette with [sth] v expr | figurative (take a foolish risk) (μεταφορικά) | παίζω ρώσικη ρουλέτα περίφρ |
| | | παίζω κτ κορώνα γράμματα έκφρ |
| | Driving while intoxicated is playing Russian roulette with other people's lives. |
play safe,
play it safe v expr | informal (avoid taking risks) | παίζω εκ του ασφαλούς, πάω εκ του ασφαλούς έκφρ |
| | The gymnast considered attempting the flip, but decided to play it safe and stick with the routine she knew well. |
| play script n | (words in a play) | σενάριο ουσ ουδ |
| | (καθομιλουμένη) | λόγια ουσ ουδ πλ |