play hard to get

play hard to get (informal)

to pretend that you are less interested in someone than you really are as a way of making them more interested in you, especially at the start of a romantic relationship. Why don't you return any of his calls? Are you playing hard to get? (often in continuous tenses)

See also: hard, play

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play hard to get

to pretend that you are less interested than you really are. Bill decided he would accept the job if it was offered rather than playing hard to get in the hope of being offered more money.

Usage notes: often said about romantic relationships: She said he was avoiding her, but maybe he was just playing hard to get.

See also: hard, play