# play hob with

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/play-hob-with
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

mess with, cause trouble for

## Examples

- The heavy rain will play hob with our plans for the picnic.
- A bad cold can play hob with your voice before a big presentation.
- Missing a few nights of sleep plays hob with your ability to focus.
- The sudden power outage played hob with the office schedule, forcing us to delay the project deadline by two days.
- The new software update played hob with my computer's settings, making it impossible to open any of my work files this morning.
- The construction noise outside is playing hob with my concentration while I try to study for the final exam.
- The airline strike played hob with our holiday travel, leaving us stuck at the airport for over twelve hours without any information.
- The unexpected economic downturn played hob with the company's long-term strategy, rendering their previous financial projections entirely obsolete.

## Origin

From Middle English Hob, a diminutive of Robin, which derives from the Old French Robert. The term acquired its modern force through its association with Robin Goodfellow and, subsequently, the devil. It shares this mischievous lineage with the hobgoblin.

---

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.