played favorites
Gave preferential treatment
To play favorites is to give preferential treatment to certain people over others, typically when fairness demands equal treatment.
Parents who play favorites among children, bosses who play favorites with promotions—the phrase carries implicit criticism of the person doing it.
The teacher always played favorites with the kids who sat in front.
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- old boys clubInformal male power network
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- subjectivityPersonal viewpoint coloring perception
special treatment · teacher's pet · bias · bent the rules · impartiality · snub · resentment · sour grapes · clique · in crowd · justice · discrimination · prejudice · equity · privilege · golden child · self-interest · wink