toys with
Plays around with
To toy with something is to handle it idly or without serious intent.
You might toy with your food when not hungry, or toy with an idea you're not committed to pursuing.
To toy with a person is to treat them carelessly, especially their emotions: He was just toying with her affections.
The phrase suggests casual manipulation or lack of genuine engagement.
- teasesMocks playfully
- strings alongDeceives with false promises
- hypothesizesProposes an unproven explanation
- dabblesEngages superficially
- fiddleAdjust restlessly; folk violin
play · contemplates · experiments · tinkers · tempts · trifles · provokes · considers · flirts · tantalizes · dallies · ponders · muses · taunts · speculates · mocks · juggles · imagines