playing house
Kids mimicking adults
Playing house is pretending to be a domestic household, typically a children's game where kids act out adult roles—cooking, cleaning, caring for dolls as babies.
Extended to adults, it describes couples living together or acting married without formal commitment: They've been playing house for two years but won't set a wedding date.
The phrase can carry a dismissive tone, suggesting the arrangement lacks seriousness or permanence.
- pretendingSimulating what isn't real
- dollhouseMiniature toy residence
- toy kitchenChild's imitation cooking area
- actingTemporarily holding position
- playroomChildren's recreation area
cohabitation · relationship dynamics · home · make-believe · imitation · daddy · parenting · baby · little ones · family · cooking · chores · trial marriage · domestic bliss · happily ever after · cleaning · dress-up · tea party
- pretendingpretend, pretending, fake, feign, make-believe
- dating slangghosting, breadcrumbing, talking, situationship, cuffing
playing housesettling down
Becoming stable and rooted
domestic partnership · keeping house · the real thing · matrimony
playing housemarriage
Formal union between partners
committed relationship · tying the knot · settling down · wedlock
play, house, plays, played, player, players, playful, playfully, playfulness