plays possum
Pretends being dead
To play possum is to pretend to be dead, asleep, or unconscious—named for the opossum's defensive behavior of feigning death when threatened.
Extended to any pretense of ignorance or inaction: He played possum when the boss asked who broke the copier.
The phrase suggests a deliberate strategy of appearing harmless or uninvolved.
- keeping mumStaying deliberately silent
- poker faceIntentionally expressionless look
- lying lowRemaining unnoticed deliberately
- laying lowRemaining hidden or inconspicuous
- camouflageConcealment through visual blending
freezing · deer in headlights · mimicry · self-preservation · keeping a low profile · flying under the radar · biding one's time · denial · fleeing · avoidance · passive resistance · pulling the wool over someone's eyes · strategic retreat · sitting tight · faking · hibernation · procrastination · beating around the bush
plays possumfaces the music
Accepts deserved consequences
stands one's ground · takes the bull by the horns · fights back · steps up · comes out swinging
play, plays, played, playing, player, players, playful, playfully, playfulness