make a play for
idiom
1
: to try to get (someone or something)
She made a play for the job, but she didn't get it.
2
: to try to start a romantic or sexual relationship with (someone)
He made a play for her.
Examples of make a play for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Just trying to make a play for my team.
—
David Aldridge, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Bo Nix should probably throw a better ball, but Franklin needs to make a play for his quarterback there.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2025
It could be argued this is an attempt by NBC to make a play for a broader audience, bearing in mind that late-night guests tend to overwhelmingly lean to the left of the ideological divide.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Should that happen, New York could make a play for him.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for make a play for
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David Aldridge, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Bo Nix should probably throw a better ball, but Franklin needs to make a play for his quarterback there.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2025
It could be argued this is an attempt by NBC to make a play for a broader audience, bearing in mind that late-night guests tend to overwhelmingly lean to the left of the ideological divide.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Should that happen, New York could make a play for him.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for make a play for
Cite this Entry
“Make a play for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20a%20play%20for. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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