play-off

IPA/ˈpleɪ ɒf/

IPA/ˈpleɪ ɔːf/

play-offbase form
play-offs3rd person singular
play-offing-ing form
play-offedpast simple

1.phrasal verbintransitiveB2

Definition

to compete in an extra deciding match when two sides or players finish a competition with the same score.

Example

Mei's team will play off against Amani's team for the championship next Saturday.

play off against [opponent] for [prize]

After finishing level on points, the two clubs played off at Wembley Stadium.

Common collocations

play off against
play off for
play off to decide

Synonyms

face off
more common in North American English, especially ice hockey
compete
much broader — covers any contest, not only tiebreaker matches

Grammar Patterns

play off against + opponent

play off for + prize or position

Usage Note

Common in team sports such as football, rugby, and cricket. The match always settles a deadlock — it decides who advances or wins, not just a regular fixture.

play-offpresent simple I / you / we / they
play-offs3rd person singular
play-offing-ing form
play-offedpast simple

1.verbtransitiveC1

Definition

to encourage two people or groups to fight or compete against each other, knowing that you will benefit from the conflict between them.

Example

Gabriel played his two managers off against each other to get a bigger budget.

play [sb] off against each other

The director cleverly played off the actors' rivalry to get better performances.

Common collocations

play off against each other
play off against one another

Synonyms

pit against
very close in meaning; 'pit against' is more direct about creating conflict
manipulate
broader — covers any form of control, not only setting people in opposition

Antonyms

unite
to bring people together rather than set them against each other
reconcile
to restore friendly relations after conflict

Grammar Patterns

play + someone + off against + someone

play + groups + off against each other

Usage Note

The subject is typically a person who gains from the conflict. The object must be two or more people or groups. Almost always followed by 'against' to name the rival. Often carries a disapproving tone.

Common Mistakes

She played her two friends off.' (incomplete — missing who they were set against).

She played her two friends off against each other.

the pattern needs 'against' plus the rival.

2.verbtransitiveC1

Definition

to place two things side by side so that their differences stand out clearly and each one makes the other more striking or attractive.

Example

The designer played off bright yellow against deep navy for a striking summer look.

play off [colour] against [colour]

Amani's painting plays off light and shadow to create a sense of great depth.

Common collocations

play off against

Synonyms

juxtapose
more formal and academic; emphasises placing things side by side for comparison
set off
similar but emphasises making something look better by contrast rather than mutual enhancement

Antonyms

blend
to combine so that differences disappear rather than stand out

Grammar Patterns

play off + noun + against + noun

play off + noun (where the contrasted partner is implied)

Usage Note

Often used in creative fields — design, art, fashion, film. The two contrasted elements should feel like they enhance each other, not clash.

Common Mistakes

The red scarf plays off to the blue jacket.' (wrong preposition).

The red scarf plays off the blue jacket.

no 'to' is used between 'play off' and the contrasted item.

3.verbtransitiveC2

Definition

to finish a game or match that was stopped before its natural end, continuing from the same point where play was halted.

Example

The teams played off the remaining twenty minutes of the match on Wednesday evening.

play off [remaining time]

Rain stopped the cup final, so both sides will play it off on Thursday.

Common collocations

play off the remaining minutes
play off the interrupted match

Synonyms

resume
much broader — applies to any activity, not only sports contests
complete
covers finishing anything, not specifically an interrupted game

Antonyms

abandon
to stop a match permanently without finishing it

Grammar Patterns

play off + remaining time or period

play off + an interrupted game or match

Usage Note

Used mainly in sports contexts when weather, darkness, or other events stop a match before it finishes. The subject is usually the teams, players, or officials.

4.verbtransitiveC1

Definition

to settle a tied score by holding an extra deciding match or round of play.

Example

The two chess grandmasters played off their draw with a series of rapid games.

play off [a draw]

Owen and Shirin will play off the tie next month at the county sports centre.

Common collocations

play off a tie
play off a draw
play off the deadlock

Synonyms

settle
much broader — covers resolving any dispute, not only sports ties
decide
covers any determination of an outcome, not only breaking a tie

Grammar Patterns

play off + a tie, draw, or deadlock

Usage Note

The object is always something that can be tied — a draw, a tie, a deadlock, or equal points. Distinguish from sense 3 (resume an interrupted contest): here the contest is finished and level, and a NEW extra match is played to break the deadlock.

Word family

playoff
nounB1
play off
phrasal verbB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These words all describe contests, but a play-off is unique because it only takes place when competitors are tied. A match is any single contest, regardless of the score — teams can play a match without anyone being level. A final is the last match of a tournament that decides the overall champion, whereas a play-off can happen at any stage to resolve a deadlock. A decider is an informal British equivalent of play-off, often heard in sports commentary ('the third set was the decider'). A tiebreaker is similar but usually refers to a short, specific format within a match — such as a tennis tiebreak — rather than a full extra game or series.

match ↗final ↗decider ↗tiebreaker ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

play-off spot
play-off place
play-off game
play-off match
play-off series

Adverbs

Phrases

qualify for the play-offs
reach the play-offs
miss out on the play-offs
win a play-off
lose a play-off

Prepositions

in the play-off
through to the play-off

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed from 'play' (to take part in a game) and 'off' (to a finish or decision). The term first appeared in late 19th-century British sport to describe a match played to settle a tie. The hyphenated noun form 'play-off' emerged shortly afterwards. The verb meaning 'to set in opposition or contrast' developed in the early 20th century from the idea of pitting one thing against another.

First known use

1895

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb

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play-off

play-off — phrasal verb

1. to compete in an extra deciding match when two sides or players finish a competi

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

play-off — noun

1. an extra match or set of matches held to determine a winner when two or more com

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

play-off — verb

1. to encourage two people or groups to fight or compete against each other, knowin

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to place two things side by side so that their differences stand out clearly and

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. to finish a game or match that was stopped before its natural end, continuing fr

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

4. to settle a tied score by holding an extra deciding match or round of play.

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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