play fair/straight
play fair
To act, behave, or play fairly and justly; to observe the rules or the laws; to not cheat or betray the spirit of something. Often used in negative formations. If you don't play fair, no one is going to want to play games with you anymore! The watchdog accused the giant multinational corporation of not playing fair with its tax obligations. Everyone I know cheats the system to their advantage, so why should I have to be the one to play fair?
play straight
To act, behave, or play fairly and justly; to observe the rules or the laws; to not cheat or betray the spirit of something. Often used in negative formations. If you don't play fair, no one is going to want to play games with you anymore! The watchdog accused the giant multinational corporation of not playing fair with its tax obligations. Everyone I know cheats the system to their advantage, so why should I have to be the one to play fair?
play fair
to do something by the rules; to play something in a fair and just manner. John won't play with Bill anymore because Bill doesn't play fair. You moved the golf ball with your foot! That's not playing fair!
play fair
Behave honestly and honorably, obey the rules, as in Not every supplier we deal with plays fair, or We can't just leave them to find their own way back-that's not playing fair. Although this idiom conjures up playing by the rules in some game or sport, it actually has been used in this figurative way since the mid-1400s. Also see play the game.