Lexic.us

Definition of Play a joke on

1. Verb. Subject to a playful hoax or joke.

2. Verb. Deceive somebody. "We tricked the teacher into thinking that class would be cancelled next week"

Lexicographical Neighbors of Play A Joke On

plausibly plausive plaw play'd play-actor play-box play-by-play play-by-play announcer play-by-play announcers play-off

play-offs play Cupid play Nostradamus play Old Harry play a joke on (current term) play a trick on play along play and playthings play at play back

play ball play both ends against the middle play both sides against the middle play bow play by ear play catch-up play dead

Literary usage of Play a joke on

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Library of American Literature from the Earliest Settlement to the Present by Edmund Clarence Stedman, Ellen Mackay Hutchinson (1889)
"They came with me from the Springs," she answered; "and—and I want to—to play a joke on them." She put her hands up to her burning cheeks, and stood so. ..."

2. Publishers Weekly by Publishers' Board of Trade (U.S.), Book Trade Association of Philadelphia, American Book Trade Union, Am. Book Trade Association, R.R. Bowker Company (1908)
"... Paris, ю rue Pasquier.) (64 p. 8e, pap., 2 fr. MUST ALL PRINTED MATTER BEAR THE UNION LABEL? EITHER some one has tried to play a joke on Mr. ..."

3. Folio (1881)
"No, Mr. Hunter was too much of a gentleman to play a joke on a helpless woman. It sounded odd, but then he did odd things she knew. And she knew, too, ..."

4. The Windsor Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly for Men and Women (1905)
"Jerry wanted to—play a joke on yon, and I— promised to help ; but oh, I—didn't mean it to go so far. I didn't, Jimmy ! I didn't!" Jimmy Rogers opened his ..."

5. St. Nicholas by Mary Mapes Dodge (1887)
"... in all sorts of curious positions, some stalking up and down as solemn as parsons — and he thought it would n't be a bad idea to play a joke on them. ..."

6. A Library of American Literature from the Earliest Settlement to the Present by Edmund Clarence Stedman, Ellen Mackay Hutchinson (1889)
"They came with me from the Springs," she answered; "and—and I want to—to play a joke on them." She put her hands up to her burning cheeks, and stood so. ..."

7. Publishers Weekly by Publishers' Board of Trade (U.S.), Book Trade Association of Philadelphia, American Book Trade Union, Am. Book Trade Association, R.R. Bowker Company (1908)
"... Paris, ю rue Pasquier.) (64 p. 8e, pap., 2 fr. MUST ALL PRINTED MATTER BEAR THE UNION LABEL? EITHER some one has tried to play a joke on Mr. ..."

8. Folio (1881)
"No, Mr. Hunter was too much of a gentleman to play a joke on a helpless woman. It sounded odd, but then he did odd things she knew. And she knew, too, ..."

9. The Windsor Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly for Men and Women (1905)
"Jerry wanted to—play a joke on yon, and I— promised to help ; but oh, I—didn't mean it to go so far. I didn't, Jimmy ! I didn't!" Jimmy Rogers opened his ..."

10. St. Nicholas by Mary Mapes Dodge (1887)
"... in all sorts of curious positions, some stalking up and down as solemn as parsons — and he thought it would n't be a bad idea to play a joke on them. ..."

Other Resources: