# play possum

idiom

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

## Meaning

To feign death; to remain quiet and still to escape attention or remain undetected; to lie low.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

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.

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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.