play at ( playing, played, plays )

• 1. 

  PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone is playing at something, you disapprove of the fact that they are doing it casually and not very seriously. 把…当儿戏 [no passive] [表不满]

  例：

  We were still playing at war – dropping leaflets instead of bombs.

  我们仍然在把战争当儿戏–在空投传单而不是在投炸弹。

• 2. 

  PHRASAL VERB If someone, especially a child, plays at being someone or doing something, they pretend to be that person or do that thing as a game. 扮…玩 [no passive]

  例：

  Ed played at being a pirate.

  埃德假扮海盗。

• 3. 

  PHRASAL VERB If you do not know what someone is playing at, you do not understand what they are doing or what they are trying to achieve. 搞 (什么) [非正式]

  例：

  She began to wonder what he was playing at.

  她开始纳闷他在搞什么。