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

He said the loch could play tricks on people's eyes and mind.

From BBC • Aug. 25, 2023

I had no idea the mind could play tricks on you over five years of a descent into madness, like I experienced.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 16, 2023

The relationship between dark and light starts to play tricks on you in this part of Sweden, where the sun goes down around 3 p.m. in December.

From New York Times • Feb. 16, 2023

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