What are the definitions of “play upon”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Exploit a weakness.
They are PLAYING UPON people's concerns to get their way.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “play upon”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb play upon is to exploit or take advantage of someone's weakness, fear, or concern. It is often used to describe how someone manipulates others for their own benefit.
What are the different verb forms of “play upon”?
| Root Verb | play upon |
| Third Person Singular Present | plays upon |
| Present Participle | playing upon |
| Simple Past | played upon |
| Past Participle | played upon |
Example
The politician played upon the fears of the public to gain support.
Example
She plays upon her opponent's weaknesses in the game.
Example
He is playing upon their insecurities to manipulate them.
Example
The con artist played upon the victim's trust to steal their money.
Example
Their emotions were played upon by the manipulative speaker.
What kind of phrasal verb is “play upon”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“play upon” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
The advertisement played upon people's desire for luxury.
Example
He played upon her sympathy to get what he wanted.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“play upon” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
The advertisement played upon people's desire for luxury.
Example
He played upon her sympathy to get what he wanted.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “play upon”?
Good things to know
Does “play upon” have an informal or formal tone?
Play upon is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is appropriate for everyday conversations, as well as more formal settings, such as academic writing or professional discussions.
