play on words
A creative use of words that have multiple meanings, often in a humorous way; a pun. Most people groan when they hear a pun, but a clever play on words can always make me laugh.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
play on words
A word or turn of phrase with a double meaning, a pun or other humorous use of language. For example, Shakespeare was a master at plays on words-his dramas are full of puns. [First half of 1700s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
a play on words
COMMON A play on words is a clever or humorous use of a word, especially one that has more than one meaning. This play got most of its laughs from a play on words. Its short form, TGB, is a French play on words on the TGV, the high speed train project.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
a play on ˈwords
a clever or amusing use of a word that has more than one meaning, or of words that have different meanings but sound similar/the same; a pun: When Elvis Presley had his hair cut off in the army he said, ‘Hair today and gone tomorrow’. It was a play on words — the usual expression is ‘here today and gone tomorrow.’ ▶ ˈwordplay noun: Many of the jokes are based on puns and wordplay.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017