Play a joke meaning in English
Learn how to use Play a joke correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
to play a joke (on someone): to trick (someone) for fun
Let's play a joke on Philip: we will put salt in his coffee.
Exercise 1
Philip and Horatio have decided to a joke on Icarus.
Philip and Horatio have decided to play a joke on Icarus.
play: 'To play a joke on somebody' is to 'trick' them or play a hoax on them. In this case, Philip suggests 'prank calling' somebody. 'To prank call somebody' is to call someone and play a trick on them, or deceive them in some way. This construction is formed with the verb 'to play'.
make: One can 'make a joke', which means to 'recite or tell a joke', however it is grammatically incorrect to 'make a joke on someone'.
do: In English, one cannot 'do a joke'. This construction requires the verb 'to play'.
tell: One can 'tell a joke', which means to 'recite or recount a joke', however it is grammatically incorrect to 'make a joke on someone'.
Exercise 2
"You've probably never touched a vinyl record or even heard one played."
Select the things which can be "played" correctly.
To play...
Select the things which can be "played" correctly.
To play...
a record
a part
a trick
an action
a tune
"You've probably never touched a vinyl record or even heard one played."
Select the things which can be "played" correctly.
To play...
Select the things which can be "played" correctly.
To play...
a record
Correct 1
a part
Correct 2
a trick
Correct 3
an action
Incorrect 4
a tune
Correct 5
1 Correct: This is correct. "To play a record" is "to operate a record player with a vinyl record", "to put a needle on a vinyl record", or simply "to listen to a vinyl record". Example: We played our old Rob Vylan records last night at full volume.
1 Incorrect: This is not an incorrect choice.
2 Correct: This is correct. "To play a part" is "to perform a role" or "to be involved". Note the term is used for actors in film or theatre performances. Example: She won an Oscar for the role she played.
2 Incorrect: This is not an incorrect choice.
3 Correct: This is correct. "To play a trick" is "to trick someone for fun" or "to play a joke (on someone)". Example: Horatio played a trick on Polly, he told her that San Francisco was going to be hit by a meteorite. A "trick" is a "deception" or a "joke".
3 Incorrect: This is not an incorrect choice.
4 Incorrect: "To play an action" is an incorrect use of English. We don't usually use the verb "to play" with the noun "action". Note that we can use the adjective form. Example: I played an action game on my computer last night.
4 Correct: This is not a correct choice.
5 Correct: This is correct. "To play a tune" is "to play an instrument" or "to use an instrument to make music". Example: Edward used his guitar to play a tune to his colleagues. A "tune" is a "song", or "melody".
5 Incorrect: This is not an incorrect choice.
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