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Definition of Play possum
1. Verb. To pretend to be dead.
Definition of Play possum
1. Verb. (idiomatic) to feign death; to remain quiet and still to escape attention or remain undetected; to lay low. ¹
2. Verb. (idiomatic) to feign sleep, illness, etc. ¹
3. Verb. (idiomatic dated) to dissemble or to feign ignorance; to disguise or conceal something in order to deceive. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Lexicographical Neighbors of Play Possum
Literary usage of Play possum
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. An American Glossary by Richard Hopwood Thornton (1912)
"1841 There's no chance to play possum with your brother any longer. ... 1848 I
don't imagine a woman can play possum in that kind of style. ..."
2. Dictionary of Americanisms. by John Russell Bartlett (1877)
"To play 'Possum. " He 'a playing 'possum with you," is a common expression at
... I will play possum with these folks, and take a rise out of them that will ..."
3. An Italian and English Dictionary with Pronunciation and Brief Etymologies by August Hjalmar Edgren, Giuseppe Bico, John Lawrence Gerig (1901)
"... "play possum" (pretend innocence); uscire di — moría, or magia, quit deceit
and show clearly one's intentions ; — et com ! there is a snake in the grass ..."
4. Slang and Its Analogues Past and Present: A Dictionary, Historical and by John Stephen Farmer, William Ernest Henley (1902)
"1855. HALIBURTON, /fur/ran Nature, 14. I will play possum with these folks, and
take a rise out of them that will astonish their weak nerves. ..."
5. The Popular Science Monthly (1893)
""play 'possum"! (Corr.). SF Goodrich, 34 : 557. ... squirrels " play 'possum "
t (Misc.), 85 : 572. Dog that could count (Corr.). JD Calhoun, 84 :414 Dog's ..."
6. A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant: Embracing English, American, and Anglo by Albert Barrère, Charles Godfrey Leland (1890)
"Also to play possum. You see, the first grizzly I caught in a trap played 'possum
with me. After the first or second shot I went up to him, supposing him to ..."
7. An American Glossary by Richard Hopwood Thornton (1912)
"1841 There's no chance to play possum with your brother any longer. ... 1848 I
don't imagine a woman can play possum in that kind of style. ..."
8. Dictionary of Americanisms. by John Russell Bartlett (1877)
"To play 'Possum. " He 'a playing 'possum with you," is a common expression at
... I will play possum with these folks, and take a rise out of them that will ..."
9. An Italian and English Dictionary with Pronunciation and Brief Etymologies by August Hjalmar Edgren, Giuseppe Bico, John Lawrence Gerig (1901)
"... "play possum" (pretend innocence); uscire di — moría, or magia, quit deceit
and show clearly one's intentions ; — et com ! there is a snake in the grass ..."
10. Slang and Its Analogues Past and Present: A Dictionary, Historical and by John Stephen Farmer, William Ernest Henley (1902)
"1855. HALIBURTON, /fur/ran Nature, 14. I will play possum with these folks, and
take a rise out of them that will astonish their weak nerves. ..."
11. The Popular Science Monthly (1893)
""play 'possum"! (Corr.). SF Goodrich, 34 : 557. ... squirrels " play 'possum "
t (Misc.), 85 : 572. Dog that could count (Corr.). JD Calhoun, 84 :414 Dog's ..."
12. A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant: Embracing English, American, and Anglo by Albert Barrère, Charles Godfrey Leland (1890)
"Also to play possum. You see, the first grizzly I caught in a trap played 'possum
with me. After the first or second shot I went up to him, supposing him to ..."
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