playing nice
Getting along well
Playing nice is cooperating, being agreeable, or following social rules—often with the implication that one could behave otherwise.
The phrase comes from childhood instruction about sharing and not fighting, but extends to adult contexts: The two companies are playing nice for now, but the truce won't last.
Someone who refuses to play nice is being difficult, competitive, or confrontational.
- courteousShowing respectful consideration
- cordialitySincere friendly warmth
- politeShowing good manners
- kindType or caring
- congenialityPleasant, agreeable nature
friendliness · respectful · kid gloves · mannerly · teamwork · amicable · cooperation · considerate · good sport · sportsmanship · partnership · taking turns · sharing · empathy · gentlemanly · diplomacy · olive branch · making peace
- insincerityinsincerity, phoniness, fakeness, falseness, pretense
- Social Pretensepretense, facade, affectation, phoniness, insincerity
playing niceplaying hardball
Using ruthless tactics
stonewalling · digging in one's heels · making waves · rocking the boat · stirring the pot
playing nicetelling it like it is
Speaking plain, unfiltered truth
speaking one's mind · showing one's true colors · letting loose
play, nice, plays, played, player, players, playing, playful, playfully