| Partikelverb |
WordReference English-Swedish Dictionary © 2026:
| play a role in [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (act a part in) (teater, film) | spela en roll i ngt vbal uttr |
| | 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 along vi phrasal | (music: play accompaniment) | spela med vitr + prep |
| | Joanna sang while Keith played along on the guitar. |
| play along vi phrasal | figurative, informal (feign co-operation) (bildlig) | spela med vitr partikel |
| | Leo wanted me to join in when he pranked our teacher, but I refused to play along. |
| play along with [sth/sb] vi phrasal + prep | figurative, informal (feign co-operation with) (bildlig) | spela med ngn vitr + prep |
| | 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) (bildlig) | leka med vitr + prep |
| | | experimentera vitr |
| | I was just playing around to see if I could get the webcam to work. |
| play around vi phrasal | informal (be frivolous) | tramsa vitr |
| | (bildlig) | leka vitr |
| | Quit playing around and get back to work! |
| play around vi phrasal | informal (be unfaithful) | vara otrogen vtr + adj |
| | Jodie dumped Greg when she found out he had been playing around. |
| play around with [sth] vtr phrasal insep | informal (tamper) | leka med ngn vtr + prep |
| | | leka med ngns känslor vbal uttr |
| | Someone has been playing around with the projector and now it doesn't work. |
| play around with [sth] vtr phrasal insep | informal (amuse yourself) | leka med ngt vtr + prep |
| | (vardagligt) | pilla med ngt vtr + prep |
| | The dog was playing around with a stick he'd found on the ground. |
| play [sth] by ear vtr phrasal sep | (music: not follow a score) | spela på gehör vbal uttr |
| | (bildlig) | spela på känsla vbal uttr |
| | 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) | tona ner vtr partikel oskj |
| | In my job interview I played down my previous failures and emphasized my successes. |
| play [sb/sth] off [sb/sth] vtr phrasal sep | (set against: [sth] else) | spela ut ngn/ngt mot ngn/ngt vbal uttr |
| | The capricious girl played off one suitor against the other. |
| play off vi phrasal | (sport: resolve a tied score) | spela slutspel vtr + s |
| | | spela avgörande match vbal uttr |
| | The two teams will play off for the division title. |
| play on vi phrasal | (continue to make music) | spela på vitr partikel |
| | | fortsätta att spela vbal uttr |
| | The orchestra is said to have played on as the Titanic was sinking. |
| play on [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (exploit) | spela på ngt vtr partikel oskj |
| | | utnyttja vtr |
| | (formell) | exploatera vtr |
| | Many confidence tricksters play on the sympathy of their victims. |
| play [sth] out vtr phrasal sep | (enact) | framföra ngt vtr |
| | The director made the actors play the scene out again with a slightly different emphasis. |
| play out vi phrasal | (proceed to the end) | komma att sluta vbal uttr |
| | | få för slut vbal uttr |
| | Nobody knows how this little drama will play out. |
| play up vi phrasal | UK, informal (child: misbehave) | hitta på hyss vbal uttr |
| | | vara olydig vtr + adj |
| | | bråka vitr |
| | The children got bored on the long journey and started playing up. |
| play up vi phrasal | informal (appliance: malfunction) (vardagligt) | krångla vitr |
| | The washing machine suddenly started playing up. |
play [sth] up,
play up [sth] vtr phrasal sep | US, informal (draw attention to [sth]) | markera vtr |
| | | dra uppmärksamhet till ngt vbal uttr |
| | She always used heavy eyeliner to play up her blue eyes. |
| play with [sth] vtr phrasal insep | (tamper or fiddle with) | leka med vtr + prep |
| | | fingra på vtr + prep |
| | Beth was playing with one of her earrings nervously. |
| Sammansatta former: |
WordReference English-Swedish Dictionary © 2026:
| at play adv | (child: playing) | lekande adv |
| | | spelande adv |
| at play adv | (factor: active, involved) | i spel prep + s |
| | | i rörelse prep + s |
| | | aktiv adj |
byplay,
by-play n | (incidental onstage action) | bihandling s |
| come into play vi | (become involved) | inträffa vitr |
| | (formell) | göra sig gällande uttr |
| | | hända vitr |
| | Tiredness comes into play near the end of a race. |
| do your part v expr | mainly US (contribute, participate) | bidra vitr |
| | (bildlig) | dra sitt strå till stacken vbal uttr |
| | Martha did her part to make the event a success. |
| fair play n | (sportsmanship, fairness) | fair play s |
| | | schyst spel adj + s |
| | 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) | brott s |
| | (formell) | olaglig förseelse adj + s |
| | The senator died in a car crash, but foul play is suspected. |
| foul play n | (unfair conduct) | falskspel s |
| | (omodern) | fulspel s |
| | | osportslig handling s |
| in play adj | (ball: not out) (sport) | som är i spel, i spel adj |
| | The ball was in play when the winger crossed it for the centre forward to score. |
| in play adj | figurative (active) (bildlig) | som är i spel, i spel adj |
| | Lowering the interest rate is among ideas that are still in play. |
| in play adv | (as a joke) | på skoj adv |
| | | på lek, på låtsas adv |
| | The comment was made in play and not intended to offend anyone. |
| it's child's play expr | (it's extremely easy) (bildlig) | det är rena barnleken uttr |
| | It's so easy to do -- it's child's play, really. |
| play a part v expr | (act) | spela en roll vbal uttr |
| | 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) | vara del av ngt vbal uttr |
| | 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) (bildlig: om faktorer) | spela roll vtr + s |
| | | vara medansvarig för vbal uttr |
| | Oliver's tendency to trust people too easily played a part in his downfall. |
| play a role v expr | (act a part) (teater, film) | spela en roll vbal uttr |
| | Several Nixon loyalists played a role in the Watergate scandal. |
| play [sth] according to the rules v expr | (game, sports) | spela ngt enligt reglerna vbal uttr |
| | | vara sportslig vtr + adj |
| | Play the game according to the rules outlined below. |
play according to the rules,
play by the rules v expr | (game, sports) | spela enligt reglerna vbal uttr |
| | | följa reglerna vtr + spl |
| | 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) (bildlig) | spela enligt reglerna, spela efter reglerna vbal uttr |
| | It's best to play according to the rules if you want to get on at work. |
| play around with [sth] v expr | informal (idea, etc.: consider) (bildlig) | leka med ngt vtr partikel oskj |
| | | roa sig med ngt vbal uttr |
| play chicken vtr + n | (test courage) (allmän) | göra tapperhetsprov vtr + s |
| | (slang) | spela chicken race vbal uttr |
| | The teenagers played chicken in their cars, driving directly towards one another. |
| play date | (appointment for children) (för barn) | lekträff s |
| play down the importance of [sth] v expr | (minimize significance of) (bildlig) | tona ner vikten av ngt vbal uttr |
| | We are trying to play down the importance of standardized tests in our school. |
| play dumb v expr | informal (feign ignorance) (vardagligt) | spela dum vtr + adj |
| | Phil played dumb when his dad asked him if he knew who had broken the window. |
| play fair vi | (games: be sporting) | spela sportsligt vitr |
| | It's the referee's job to ensure that both teams play fair. |
| play fair vi | figurative (behave by the rules) (bildlig) | vara sportslig vitr |
| | Hey, play fair! Take that ace out of your sleeve right now! |
play favorites (US),
play favourites (UK) v expr | (show partiality) | favorisera vtr |
| | My boss plays favorites; his buddies get the plum assignments, and the rest of us get the menial work. |
| play games vtr + npl | informal, figurative (be inconsistent) (bildlig) | spela spel vtr + spl |
| | 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) | idrotta vitr |
| | | spela vtr |
| | The children spent the afternoon playing games. |
| play havoc with [sth] v expr | (bring chaos to) | löpa amok med vbal uttr |
| | (vardagligt) | sabba vitr |
| | | ställa till oreda vbal uttr |
| | The train strike is playing havoc with my travel plans. |
| play music v expr | (make music, play an instrument) | spela musik vtr + s |
| | Shane struggles to read musical notation but has a talent for playing music by ear. |
| play music v expr | (listen to recorded music) | spela musik vtr + s |
| | | lyssna på musik vbal uttr |
| | I like to play music while I'm cooking the dinner. |
| play nice v expr | US (children: play without fighting) | leka fint vitr + adv |
| | | uppföra sig vitr + refl |
| play nice v expr | mainly US, figurative (adults: not behave unkindly) (bildlig) | leka fint vitr + adv |
| | | vara snälla mot varande vbal uttr |
| play-off n | (game or series of games played to break a tie) | slutspel s |
| | | avgörande match adj + s |
| | The Lakers didn't make it to the play-offs this year. |
| play on words n | (pun) | ordvits, ordlek s |
| | It wasn't serious, just a play on words. |
play safe,
play it safe v expr | informal (avoid taking risks) (ogillande) | fega vitr |
| | | gardera sig vitr + refl |
| | The gymnast considered attempting the flip, but decided to play it safe and stick with the routine she knew well. |
play school,
play schools v expr | (children: pretend to teach) | leka skola vtr + s |
play second fiddle,
play second fiddle to [sb] v expr | figurative (be considered less important) (bildlig) | spela andra fiolen efter ngn, spela andrafiolen vbal uttr |
| | She always played second fiddle to her talented older sister. |
| play sports vtr + npl | (participate in physical games) | utöva sport vtr + s |
| | (exempel: fotboll) | spela vtr |
| | Ryan plays sports five times a week to keep in shape. |
| play the field v expr | figurative, informal (have many relationships) (ungefärlig översättning) | gå på dejt med många vbal uttr |
| | (vardagligt, vulgär) | ligga runt vitr partikel |
| | Simon has gained a reputation for playing the field. |
| play the fool v expr | (behave in a silly way) | spela dum vtr + adj |
| | (vardagligt) | spela apa vtr + s |
| | (vardagligt) | dumma sig vitr + refl |
| | Bob enjoyed playing the fool in front of his grandchildren. |
| play the game v expr | figurative (co-operate, conform) (bildlig) | spela med i spelet vbal uttr |
| | (bildlig) | spela spelet vtr + s |
| | No wonder he's a success, he really knows how to play the game. |
play the hand you are dealt,
play the hand that you are dealt,
play the hand you're dealt v expr | figurative (work with what you have) | göra så gott man kan med det man har vbal uttr |
| Anmärkning: Det finns ingen exakt översättning. |
| play the part of [sb] v expr | (act the role of) | spela rollen som vbal uttr |
| | Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman starred in "Casablanca", and Dooley Wilson played the part of Sam. |
| play truant v expr | (be absent from school without permission) | skolka vitr |
| | (vardagligt) | skubba vitr |
| | The boy received a detention for playing truant. |
| play with [sth] vi + prep | (child: amuse self with) | leka med ngt vtr + prep |
| | Lucy was playing with her favourite doll. |
| play with fire v expr | figurative (risk danger) (bildlig) | leka med elden vbal uttr |
| | Computer users are playing with fire if they don't keep their anti-virus software up to date. |
| | Driving at such high speeds is playing with fire. |
| play your cards v expr | informal, figurative (behave strategically) (bildlig) | spela sina kort vbal uttr |
| | If he plays his cards right, he could get to go to New York. |
| play your part v expr | mainly UK (contribute, participate) (bildlig) | spela sin roll vbal uttr |
| | | bidra vitr |
| | Each of us needs to play our part to make the world a better place. |
| play-the-ball n | (rugby move) | spela bollen vtr + s |
| | (rugby) | play-the-ball s |
playdough,
play-dough n | (children's modelling clay) | modellera s |
| | (vardagligt) | lera s |
| | Playdough is a great art supply for kids--easy to use and it has a nice odor. |
playground,
play park n | (children's outdoor play area) | lekplats s |
| | Steve watched his kids playing in the playground. |
playgroup,
play group n | (toddlers' activity session) | lekgrupp s |
| | In the playgroup, the children sang songs all morning. |
| | The mother took her child to playgroup every weekday. |
role play,
role playing n | (playacting, simulation) | rollspel s |
| | “Today we'll be doing a role play exercise,” said the teacher. |
| soft-play adj | (safe play area) | säker lekplats - |
| Anmärkning: Det finns ingen exakt översättning. |