1. Home
2. Idioms
3. toy with

toy with

---

---

toy with someone

to tease someone; to deal lightly with someone's emotions. Ann broke up with Tom because he was just toying with her. He was not serious at all. Don't toy with me! I won't have it!

See also: toy

toy with something

to play with something; to fiddle with something. You are just toying with me! Please don't toy with the stereo controls.

See also: toy

toy with somebody

to encourage someone to believe you care about them when you do not Don't fool yourself by thinking he wants a serious relationship - he's famous for toying with women.

Related vocabulary: lead somebody on

See also: toy

toy with something

1. to think about something but not seriously We're toying with the idea of going to Peru next year.

2. to handle something or move it around without any clear purpose As he was speaking, he toyed nervously with a button on his jacket.

See also: toy

toy with

1. Amuse oneself idly with, trifle, as in He teased her, toying with her as a cat toys with a mouse. [Early 1500s]

2. Treat casually or without seriousness, as in I'm toying with the idea of writing a novel. [Early 1800s]

See also: toy

toy with

v.

1. To amuse oneself idly by manipulating someone or something; trifle with someone or something: The cat toyed with the ball in its paws.

2. To treat something casually or without seriousness: I had toyed with the idea of going back to college, but I never actually applied.

See also: toy