play devil's advocate

play (the) devil's advocate

Fig. to put forward arguments against or objections to a proposition-which one may actually agree with-purely to test the validity of the proposition. (The devil's advocate opposes the canonization of a saint in order to prove that the grounds for canonization are sound.) I agree with your plan. I'm just playing the devil's advocate so you'll know what the opposition will say. Mary offered to play devil's advocate and argue against our case so that we would find out any flaws in it.

See also: play

References in periodicals archive	?		Idioms browser	?		Full browser	?
And if you want a laugh, play devil's advocate like I did with a chap whose back was covered in indigo with a flag of St George. Pounding for a Brit abroad by The Mirror (London, England) But just to play devil's advocate, perhaps it is a word we shouldn't so casually discard. A perfect storm of 'pet peeve' words by Richert, Kevin / The Masthead Play devil's advocate and assume the editor's right, and see if those changes improve the work. Writing Children's Books No More Excuses! by Laura Backes / Writing and Speaking community	play a joke on play a part in play a straight bat play a trick on play a waiting game play ace play against play along play around play around with play as play at play at own game play away from home play back play ball play ball with play both ends play both ends against the middle play by ear play cards close to chest play cards right play cat and mouse play cat and mouse with play dead play devil's advocate play dirty play down play down to play fair play fast and loose play fast and loose with play first chair play footsie play footsie with play for play for a fool play for a sucker play for keeps play for time play freeze-out play games play God play gooseberry play hard to get play hardball play havoc with play hell play hell with play hooky play ignorant	Play by ear Play by ear play by electronic mail Play by mail Play by Message Board Play by play Play by Post Play by Private Message play by the book play cards close to chest play cards close to chest play cards close to chest play cards close to chest play cards close to chest play cards close to vest play cards close to vest play cards close to vest play cards close to vest play cards close to vest play cards right play cards right play cards right play cards right play cards well play cat and mouse play cat and mouse with Play Cu Play Dead Play Dead Play debt play devil's advocate Play Dirty Play Dog Excellent Play doh Play Dough play down play down play down play down play down play down play down to play dumb play fair play false play false play false play false play false Play Family play fast and loose play fast and loose play fast and loose play fast and loose play fast and loose play fast and loose play fast and loose with play favorites play first chair play footsie play footsie with

References in periodicals archive

Idioms browser

Full browser

And if you want a laugh, play devil's advocate like I did with a chap whose back was covered in indigo with a flag of St George.

Pounding for a Brit abroad by The Mirror (London, England)

But just to play devil's advocate, perhaps it is a word we shouldn't so casually discard.

A perfect storm of 'pet peeve' words by Richert, Kevin / The Masthead

Play devil's advocate and assume the editor's right, and see if those changes improve the work.

Writing Children's Books No More Excuses! by Laura Backes / Writing and Speaking community

play devil's advocate

Play Dirty
Play Dog Excellent
Play doh
Play Dough
play down
play down
play down
play down
play down
play down
play down to
play dumb
play fair
play false
play false
play false
play false
play false
Play Family
play fast and loose
play fast and loose
play fast and loose
play fast and loose
play fast and loose
play fast and loose
play fast and loose with
play favorites
play first chair
play footsie
play footsie with