play the game
Act as expected
To play the game is to follow the accepted rules or conventions of a situation, especially when doing so requires compromise or conformity.
The phrase often carries a note of cynicism—suggesting that success requires going along with established norms rather than challenging them: If you want to get promoted, you have to play the game.
It can also mean to compete fairly: He plays the game hard but clean.
- go along withAccept another's proposal
- competeStrive for superiority
- complyFollow rules or requests
- fit inJoin a group seamlessly
- rulesPrinciples governing behavior
follow the rules · conform · agree · maneuvering · power moves · behind the scenes · scheme · wheeling and dealing · quid pro quo · hustle · bluff · get ahead · tactics · unwritten rules · office politics · toe the line · strategy · negotiation
- self-interestself-interest, selfishness, egoism, look out for number one, every man for himself
play the gamerebel
Authority defier
resist · fight the power · rock the boat · break the rules · go against the grain
play, game, player, playing, played, plays, players, playfully, replay