to play dumb

14:35 Dec 6, 2010 

Very well said!

14:27 Dec 6, 2010 

"playing dumb" is such a common metaphorical phrase in English, that to my ear it realy doesn't sound at all like an insult. If anything it's a bit clever. You are saying, in effect, I know you know what I am talking about but you are pretending to know that you don't. So you are telling the child, I know you are pretending. That might even bring a smile to the face of the child if said in a gentle way. They like to pretend, or to play pretend. Of course it can also be said sharply. But I strongly agree that the phrase must be joined with play or pretend. I prefer pretend.

08:22 Dec 6, 2010 

I would personally never use the words dumb or stupid to describe either of my children, even if it was in this particular expression. In very colloquial language (my children are only 5 and 3) I would probably say "don't pretend you don't know what I'm on about", or indeed use "ignorance" - but definitely not anything that may be downgrading.

06:38 Dec 6, 2010 

I don 't think anybody would say that. The common term would be... don't play (or act) stupid.

18:10 Dec 5, 2010 

So then, it is more appropriate to say "you´re just playing ignorant" to a kid, right?

16:03 Dec 5, 2010 

Saying e. g. "you're just feigning ignorance" to a kid does sound a little awkward. To play dumb doesn't necessarily have to be offensive - but usually is - when it's being said teasingly or as a joke.

15:14 Dec 5, 2010 

I´d like to know if to feign ignorance isn´t too formal if I have to say it to a kid. On the other hand, I´d like to know if "to play dumb" isn´t a little offensive ?. Thanks