play possum
Pretend you're dead
To play possum is to feign death or unconsciousness, as opossums do when threatened.
By extension, it means to pretend ignorance or inactivity to deceive others: He played possum when his boss asked who broke the copier.
The phrase suggests strategic deception—appearing harmless or oblivious while actually aware.
Concealment through visual blending
- hideConceal or pelt
- protectionGuarding against harm
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- evasionAct of escaping detection
escape · retreat · stillness · immobility · freeze · motionless · inert · limp
Animals that kill prey
- instinctInnate behavioral tendency
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- self-preservationInstinct to survive danger
- wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
nature · threat · danger · prey · marsupial · reflex · involuntary · stress response
Escape by cunning
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
- shirkEvade one's obligations
- sidestepEvade by moving aside
- duckWaterbird that quacks
ignore · deflect · stall · delay · procrastinate · noncommittal · unresponsive · passive
feign
Pretend to have
pretend · dissemble · ruse · trick · deceive · mislead · hoodwink · dupe · con · subterfuge
camouflage
Concealment through visual blending
- hideConceal or pelt
- protectionGuarding against harm
- concealmentAct of hiding something
evasion · escape · retreat · stillness · immobility · freeze · motionless · inert · limp · unresponsive
predators
Animals that kill prey
- instinctInnate behavioral tendency
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- self-preservationInstinct to survive danger
wildlife · nature · threat · danger · prey · marsupial · reflex · involuntary · stress response · animal behavior
evade
Escape by cunning
duck · ignore · deflect · stall · delay · procrastinate · noncommittal · unresponsive · passive · disengaged
- doing nothingdo nothing, stand still, sit tight, stay put, keep still
- playing dumbfeign ignorance, blank stare, vacant stare, willful ignorance, selective memory
play possumshow one's true colors
Reveal genuine character
come clean · lay one's cards on the table · wear one's heart on one's sleeve · be authentic · act naturally
play possumspring into action
Begin acting immediately
make a scene · stand up and be counted · come out swinging · rear one's head
play possumfight back
Oppose an attacker
stand one's ground · confront · face the music · engage · take action
play, player, playful, playing, played, plays, players, plaything, playfulness