play on

verb plays on · playing on · played on

1. To exploit (a potential weakness or vulnerability) by exacerbating. to play on someone's fears
2. To exploit (a double meaning, similarity in sound, etc.) for humorous or creative effect. This joke plays on the fact that 'thirsty' sounds similar to 'Thursday'.
3. To impinge upon in a recurring or nagging way. to play on one's mind, or conscience
4. To frequently allude to or return to as a theme. The pamphlet plays on the idea that all social conflict is class-based.
5. of a batsman to hit the ball into his own wicket, thus being out bowled
6. intransitive To let the game continue after a foul has been committed, because the situation is advantageous to the team who would be awarded a foul.
7. transitive To cause (an opposing player) to be onside rather than offside due to one's position on the field of play. The ref said that Smith was offside, but I think that Jones played him on.
8. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, on. I knew I was losing, but I played on anyways.