play tricks

idiom

The phrase "play tricks" can refer to deceptive actions, often with a playful or mischievous intent, or to the mind's ability to create misleading impressions.

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Definition

B2General

(informal)To deceive or mislead someone for amusement or advantage.

Example

He loved to play tricks on his friends during April Fool's Day.

C1Psychology

(figurative)When one's mind, memory, or senses create a false or misleading impression.

Example

I thought I saw her in the crowd, but my eyes must have been playing tricks on me.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "play tricks":

trick out dirty trick trick play brain trick parlour trick hat trick bag of tricks every trick in the book box of tricks play around cheap trick play the fool trick question hidden-ball trick trick shot mind game play with tricked out joke around play along mess around play to play on