play possum
To feign death; to remain quiet and still to escape attention or remain undetected; to lie low.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The opossum played possum when the dog ran near it.”
“He plays possum so his parents think he is already asleep.”
“When the teacher asked who broke the vase, the students played possum and stared at their desks.”
“I decided to play possum and stay in bed when I heard my roommate asking for help with the heavy cleaning.”
“The company chose to play possum while the media storm continued, hoping that everyone would forget the scandal by next week.”
“Sensing the predator nearby, the small creature played possum, remaining perfectly motionless until the danger passed.”
first recorded 19th c.
First recorded c. 1807, from the verb *play* and the noun *possum*, a shortened form of *opossum*. The expression is a reference to the defensive strategy of the Virginia opossum, which feigns death when it encounters a threat it cannot otherwise avoid. The animal remains motionless and unresponsive until the danger has passed, a state of calculated inactivity that entered the English lexicon in the early 19th century.
- 01
child's play
Something particularly easy or simple.
- 02
go play in the traffic
To go elsewhere and feel free to engage in risky behavior; to get lost.
- 03
grandstand play
A successful play or other manoeuvre during a sporting competition in which one or more players shows off unnecessarily in order to entertain or impress the spectators.
- 04
hold-up play
A play where an attacker retains possession of the ball, while the teammates can move up the field.
- 05
play a part
To be involved in such a way to affect the outcome, to be a contributing factor.
- 06
play a role
To have an effect or influence on a situation or outcome; to contribute to something.
- 07
play all one's cards
To use all one's resources.
- 08
play along
To take part in a charade, deception, or practical joke.
Last updated August 10, 2026