playing at
Not truly committed
Playing at describes doing something without real commitment or seriousness—pretending or dabbling rather than genuinely engaging.
Children play at being doctors or soldiers.
Adults who are just playing at a profession or skill lack the dedication of true practitioners.
The phrase often carries dismissiveness: He's not a real chef, he's playing at it.
- pretendingSimulating what isn't real
- make believeImaginative fantasy play
- actingTemporarily holding position
- performingExecuting an action
- going through the motionsPerforming without genuine effort
make-believe · masquerading · charade · drama · posturing · feigning · imitation · bluffing · tinkering · half-hearted · not serious · dilettantism · dissembling · dabbling · having a go · fooling around · impersonating · mimicking