play Old Harry with
Synonym of play the devil with.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The heavy rain played Old Harry with our garden plans.”
“The sudden computer virus played Old Harry with our office files, causing us to lose hours of hard work.”
“The unexpected economic downturn played Old Harry with the company's long-term investments, forcing the board to reconsider their entire strategy for the coming year.”
- 01
any old nook or cranny
Alternative form of any nook or cranny.
- 02
bad old days
The past, seen as a time when things were worse.
- 03
big old
Emphatically or impressively big; really big.
- 04
child's play
Something particularly easy or simple.
- 05
chip off the old block
Someone who takes after one of their parents; (generally) a person similar to another.
- 06
come the old soldier
Often followed by with: to deceive, impose upon, or take advantage of someone, as if exploiting one's superior age or experience.
- 07
every old nook and cranny
Alternative form of every nook and cranny.
- 08
give someone the old heave-ho
Alternative form of give someone the heave-ho.
Last updated August 10, 2026