play into someone's hands
Help your opponent
To play into someone's hands is to act in a way that unwittingly gives them an advantage—doing exactly what they hoped you would do.
The image is from card games, where a poor move strengthens your opponent's position: By losing your temper, you played right into her hands.
Often used as a warning: Don't respond—you'll only be playing into their hands.
- backfireYield unintended consequences
- fall into a trapGet caught by deception
- take the baitAccept a deceptive offer
- trickDeliberate deception
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
fall for it · misstep · scheming · maneuvering · hidden agenda · betrayal · bluff · card · trap · exploitation · pawn · miscalculation · oversight · bait · fold · deal · shoot oneself in the foot · blunder
strategic advantage
play into someone's handsoutmaneuver
Defeat through superior tactics
outwit · turn the tables · outsmart · outfox · one-up