play with
Definition of play with
1 : to move or handle (something) with one's hands or fingers often without thinking Stop playing with that pen and pay attention to what I'm saying.
2 : to handle, change, or deal with (something) in a careless way I played with the radio for a while but couldn't get it to work. It's important to teach your children not to play with guns/fire/matches. Don't play with my heart/emotions. You have to take this seriously. You're playing with people's lives!
3 : to think about (something) briefly and not very seriously I played with the idea of moving to Chicago but ended up staying in New York.
From the M-W Editors
Word by Word Definitions
: swordplay
: game, sport
: the conduct, course, or action of a game
: to engage in sport or recreation : frolic
: to have sexual relations
: to move aimlessly about : trifle
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