bring into play
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Related to bring into play: in favor of, play tricks, in line with, play a part, overstay my welcome
bring (something) into play
1. In sports, to hit or take the ball into the field of play so that the game can resume, as after a timeout or stoppage. He'll bring the ball into play and then pass it ahead to you.
2. To introduce something into a particular situation. Bringing a merger into play might be the best option to save the company. I really wanted to visit you this weekend, but the flu brought some other unpleasant factors into play.
bring something into play
1. Lit. [in a ball game] to put the ball into the action of the game, such as after a timeout. Fred brought the ball into play when he bounced it in from the sidelines.
2. Fig. [for the shares of a company] to become the subject of a takeover bid. The recent drop in the value of that stock brought the company into play. The company was brought into play by a news story about their new product line.
3. Fig. to cause something to become a factor in something. Now, this recent development brings some other factors into play. Something else was brought into play by the strange event.