play Old Harry with (something)



play Old Harry with (something)

To ruin or cause serious damage to something; to greatly upset, disrupt, or negatively affect something; to play the devil with something ("Old Harry" being a nickname for the devil). Lack of oversight allowed overzealous investment bankers to play Old Harry with the economy. I love wine, but it plays Old Harry with my stomach!
See also: harry, old, play

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Vesna-Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian
Ackerman['ækəmən]
Husamhu-SAH:MArabic
Valeryvah-LYE-reeRussian
Katidakah-TEE-dahEsperanto
Suibne-Irish