to play the field

English translation: to meet many people, to have many casual boyfriends

01:25 Apr 1, 2004

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Linguistics

English term or phrase: to play the field

Her mother told her to play the field.

Harinder Dhillon KudoZ activity Questions: 209 (1 open) Answers: 277
Local time: 07:51

Selected answer:to meet many people, to have many casual boyfriends

Explanation:
You're not giving us any context, but this is one possible meaning.

Selected response from:

NGK
United States
Local time: 07:51

Grading comment

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

3 +14

to meet many people, to have many casual boyfriends

NGK

to have many romantic or sexual relationships

Marija Stojanovich

not to attach oneself to one particular thing, person, activity etc

Gayle Wallimann

to be out and about ...

Craft.Content

to maintain an interest in a number of people or things, especially...

chica nueva

Answers

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +14

to meet many people, to have many casual boyfriends

Explanation:
You're not giving us any context, but this is one possible meaning.

NGK
United States
Local time: 07:51
Native speaker of:

English,

German
PRO pts in category: 20

2 hrs confidence:

to be out and about ...

Explanation:
To play the field, in the social context, may mean 'to be out and about, to be sociable ...'. In the business/ betting context, it might mean 'to make the right moves ...'

Hth,
Sanjay.

Craft.Content
Local time: 18:21
Native speaker of:

Hindi

2 hrs confidence:

to have many romantic or sexual relationships

Explanation:
The definition given in the Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms (see link below)

Reference: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=field*4+0&dic...

Marija Stojanovich
Serbia
Local time: 14:51
Native speaker of: Serbian

4 hrs confidence:

not to attach oneself to one particular thing, person, activity etc

Explanation:
It isn't necessarily always used in romantic, dating situations. It can be for a person that doesn't want to become committed to a specific job task, or sports activity, exclusive friendship etc. It comes from sports, for instance in baseball. Someone who plays the field is someone who has a lot of space to cover to catch the ball, not just one small specific area of the playing field.
Your context could be reworded as "Her mother told her not to commit herself to" (whatever it is that your context refers to)...

www.adams.allwords.com/word-play.html - 32k
www.home.t-online.de/home/toni.goeller/idiom_wm/id474.htm - 6k

Gayle Wallimann
Local time: 14:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

9 hrs confidence:

to maintain an interest in a number of people or things, especially...

Explanation:
play the field = to maintain an interest in a number of people or things, especially to become romantically or sexually involved with a number of partners. eg Becky's not ready to settle down with one man - she enjoys playing the field too much.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

chica nueva
Local time: 00:51
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

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to play the field

English translation: to meet many people, to have many casual boyfriends

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English translation: to meet many people, to have many casual boyfriends

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