# play for love

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/play-for-love
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To play a game of cards without stakes.

## Examples

- We do not bet money here; we just play for love.
- Since it is just a friendly game among neighbors, we decided to play for love instead of using chips.
- The seasoned gamblers preferred the high-stakes table, but the quiet group in the corner chose to play for love, enjoying the game purely for its own sake.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.