# play someone like a fiddle

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/play-someone-like-a-fiddle
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To play (manipulate) (a person) skillfully.

## Examples

- He played her like a fiddle to get what he wanted.
- The clever salesman played the customer like a fiddle, convincing him to buy the most expensive car on the lot.
- By exploiting his rival's vanity and insecurity, the strategist played him like a fiddle, ensuring the entire negotiation unfolded exactly as he had planned.

---

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.