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play off

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play something off

to play a game to break a tied score. They decided not to play the tie off because it had grown so late. They went ahead and played off the tie after all.

See also: off, play

play off

1. See under play both ends against the middle.

2. Break a tie by playing an additional game or period, as in Each team had won three games so they had to play off the tie to decide the championship.

See also: off, play

play off

v.

1. Sports To play a game that breaks a tie in ranking: The top two teams play off tonight to determine the champion.

2. To perform an action in response to some other action, exploiting it advantageously: A good tennis player plays off every move the opponent makes. We make a good team, since we play off each other perfectly.

3. play off against To set something in opposition to, or working in a different direction than, something else in order to gain an advantage: The queen played the nobles off against each other, telling each of them that the others were plotting against him.

See also: off, play