play to win
Go for gold
To play to win is to compete with genuine intent to succeed rather than just participating.
The phrase implies maximum effort and strategic focus, sometimes with ruthless overtones: She doesn't just show up—she plays to win.
Often used in business contexts to describe aggressive competitive strategy: In this market, you either play to win or get out.
- competeStrive for superiority
- go hardExert total effort
- striveMake sustained effort
- victoryDefeating an opponent
- second placeRanking below first
success · achievement · triumph · commitment · whatever it takes · at all costs · no holds barred · take no prisoners · perseverance · all in · trade-offs · determination · calculation · integrity · assertiveness · stakes · ambition · consequences
- competitioncompete, competitor, contender, sports, match
- Sports Sayingsno pain no gain, practice makes perfect, leave it all on the field, go for gold, never give up
- success idiomshit the jackpot, strike gold, make it, rags to riches, come out on top
play to winphone it in
Perform with minimal effort
go through the motions · mail it in · just for fun · play it safe · show up
play to winplay nice
Behave fairly toward others
play fair · play it safe · play by the rules · hedge your bets · coast
play, win, plays, played, playing, player, players, playful, playfully