play tricks
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Daphne du Maurier’s fiction revels in the mind’s ability to play tricks on itself.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025
Then pollution, much from industry but some from farming itself, also started to play tricks on them over the past few decades.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 31, 2024
"The dripping water, the rats, the echoes and the shadows can make your mind play tricks when you are alone in here at night," says Jamie.
From BBC • Oct. 30, 2022
She’s never sought to play tricks on her audience, she told me, correcting a common misconception about her work; Kuriki-Olivo approaches everything she devises from a place of sincerity.
From New York Times • Aug. 18, 2021
Leah ultimately found one explanation that covered almost any difficult séance situation—the spirit world contained humbugs just like the mortal one— some spirits liked to play tricks; others simply lied.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
