1. Home
2. Idioms
3. play out

play out

---

---

play out

[for a process] to run out; to finish. The whole incident is about to play out. Then it all will be forgotten. When the event plays out, everything will return to normal.

See also: out, play

play something out

 

1. to play something, such as a game, to the very end. I was bored with the game, but I felt I had to play it out. She played out the rest of the game.

2. to unwind, unfold, or unreel something. (See also pay something out.) Please play some more rope out. They played out many feet of cable.

See also: out, play

play out something

also play itself out

to go through a process We're waiting to see how the debate about more education reform will play itself out in the weeks ahead.

See also: out, play

play out

1. Finish, run out, as in This extreme fashion will soon play out, or The tension between factions will surely play itself out by next year. [Late 1500s]

2. Unwind, unreel, as in They slowly played out the cable. Also see played out.

See also: out, play

play out

v.

1. To use something until there is none left; use up something: The boxer's strength was played out early in the match.

2. To proceed through a course of progression or development. Used of situations: We'll have to see how the situation in my office plays out before we know whether we can take a vacation.

See also: out, play