play the field
Avoid exclusive commitment
To play the field is to date multiple people rather than committing to one romantic partner: She's not ready to settle down—she wants to play the field.
The phrase comes from betting strategy, where spreading wagers across multiple horses increases chances of winning.
It can also apply to keeping options open in other contexts: He's playing the field with job offers before deciding.
Not expressing clear opinion
- uncommittedNot bound to anything
- unattachedNot joined or connected
- singleOne in number
- availableReady to be used
eligible · bachelor · bachelorette · lothario · heartbreaker · romance · courtship · flirtation
Available courses of action
- alternativesOther available options
- possibilitiesThings that may occur
- choicesAvailable options to pick
- varietyState of being diverse
diversity · sampling · experimenting · browsing · comparing · weighing · evaluating · considering
Noncommittal maneuvering
- diversifyingIncreasing variety within
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- opportunisticExploiting circumstances for gain
- maximizingIncreasing to fullest extent
optimizing · leveraging · maneuvering · positioning · networking · prospecting · scouting · assessing
noncommittal
Not expressing clear opinion
- uncommittedNot bound to anything
- unattachedNot joined or connected
- singleOne in number
available · eligible · bachelor · bachelorette · lothario · heartbreaker · romance · courtship · flirtation · dating
options
Available courses of action
- alternativesOther available options
- possibilitiesThings that may occur
- choicesAvailable options to pick
variety · diversity · sampling · experimenting · browsing · comparing · weighing · evaluating · considering · testing
hedging
Noncommittal maneuvering
- diversifyingIncreasing variety within
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- opportunisticExploiting circumstances for gain
maximizing · optimizing · leveraging · maneuvering · positioning · networking · prospecting · scouting · assessing · strategic
- dating slangghosting, breadcrumbing, talking, situationship, cuffing
- strategystrategy, grand strategy, tactics, tactic, tactical
play the fieldsettle down
Become calm or established
go steady · commit · be faithful · get serious · tie the knot
play, field, plays, played, playing, player, players, playful, playfully