Society
play on something
use a feeling or weakness to influence someone
If something plays on a feeling or weakness, it uses it to influence or persuade someone.
Hear it in real life
Why does that advert feel so powerful?
It plays on our fear of missing out.
Some charity adverts play on people's guilt to encourage donations.
The mistake everyone makes
Not: The advert plays in parents' worries.
Say: The advert plays on parents' worries.
Use the fixed preposition “on” after “play” when something exploits a feeling or fear.
Build it
How it fits in a sentence.
play on someone's fears; play on a weakness; played on
Your turn: say it out loud
Some charity adverts play on people's guilt to encourage donations.
Say it out loud two or three times, until it feels like yours.
play on something
use a feeling or weakness to influence someone
“Some charity adverts play on people's guilt to encourage donations.”
heytardy
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