CEFR A2

play cards

verb phrase

Meaning

To engage in a game using a deck of playing cards, often involving strategy, chance, and social interaction, for entertainment or sometimes for gambling.

Examples

Every Friday night, our family likes to gather around the table and play cards.
They decided to play cards to decide who would do the dishes after dinner.

Synonyms: deal cards, have a card game, gamble

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play cards (A2)

verb phrase

Pronunciation: /pleɪ kɑːrdz/

Definition

To engage in a game using a deck of playing cards, often involving strategy, chance, and social interaction, for entertainment or sometimes for gambling.

Examples

Every Friday night, our family likes to gather around the table and play cards.
They decided to play cards to decide who would do the dishes after dinner.
During the long train journey, the passengers started to play cards to alleviate boredom.

How to Use play cards

play cards with someone (collocation): to participate in a card game together with another person or people — "I love to play cards with my grandparents on holidays."
play cards for money (collocation): to gamble using cards as the medium — "They decided to play cards for small stakes, just to make it more interesting."
play cards against someone (collocation): to compete in a card game with an opponent — "She always enjoys playing cards against her brother because he's very competitive."

Synonyms of play cards

Words with a similar meaning to play cards:

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