# play along

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/play-along
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to pretend to agree with someone or follow a plan, even if you do not really want to. You often do this to keep a secret or avoid an argument.

For teachers: to cooperate or feign cooperation with a person or scheme, typically to maintain a deception or avoid conflict. The verb is intransitive but frequently takes a prepositional phrase starting with 'with'.

## Examples

- I didn't believe his story, but I decided to play along.
- When the kids pretended the cardboard box was a spaceship, their father played along and asked for a ticket to Mars.
- The undercover agent had to play along with the gang's illicit activities for months to gain their leader's absolute trust.

## Pitfalls

- Not "She played along the lie." but "She played along with the lie." — the phrase requires the preposition 'with' before a noun object.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by 'with' if you mention the person or the idea you are supporting.
- Teaching tip: use role-play activities where one student has a secret and the other must 'play along' to help them keep it.

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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.