make a play for (someone or something)

1. To attempt to attract someone romantically. I know she's way out of my league, but I'm going to make a play for Stacy.

2. To attempt to attain something, often through some kind of plan or scheme. We need a quarterback, so we're going to make a play for Jones in the offseason. Most start-ups are formed in the hope that some huge corporation will make a play for them before they get too big.

make a play for someone

If someone makes a play for a person who they find sexually attractive, they try to start a relationship with them. All the girls made a play for him. If a woman makes an obvious play for a man it can be very flattering.