# play the something card

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/play-the-something-card
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To mention something to obtain some advantage in conversation.

## Examples

- He always plays the victim card when he makes a mistake.
- When the manager asked why the report was late, she played the busy card to avoid taking responsibility.
- During the heated negotiation, the politician played the patriotism card to distract the public from the underlying economic failures of his proposal.

---

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.