play politics UK
to use a situation or the relationships between people for your own advantage:
He accused councillors of playing politics with children's education.

[TahlilGaran] Advanced Learner's Dictionary ▲

play politics
play politics (with (something))
to make something into a political issue.
She accused her opponent of playing politics with affirmative action in an attempt to divide the American people.

Either we can play politics or we can take these studies seriously and make the changes we need to make.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

play politics
to negotiate politically, to allow politics to control a situation where principle should prevail
The government leaders were playing politics with the issue of changing the tax rate.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

play politics
v. phr. To make secret agreements for your own gain; handle different groups for your own advantage.
In order to get elected, he had to play politics with both the unions and the bosses.
Mary always gets what she wants by playing office politics.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲