play havoc

play havoc with (someone or something)

To cause issues or disruptions for someone or something. The road closures have played havoc with rush-hour traffic. This humidity is going to play havoc with my hair.
See also: havoc, play
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

play havoc

Also, raise or wreak havoc . Disrupt, damage, or destroy something, as in The wind played havoc with her hair, or The fire alarm raised havoc with the children, or The earthquake wrought havoc in the town. The noun havoc was once used as a command for invaders to begin looting and killing, but by the 1800s the term was being used for somewhat less aggressive activities. For a synonym, see play the devil with.
See also: havoc, play
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.
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References in periodicals archive ?
Summary: Pune (Maharashtra) [India], Aug 16 (ANI): As flood continues to play havoc in Maharashtra, the death toll in all five districts of Pune division including Sangli, Kolhapur, Satara, Pune and Solapur has risen to 54.
Maharashtra floods: Death toll rises to 54 in Pune division
(R) Muhammad Usman said that nobody would be allowed to play havoc with lives of the people.
PFA seals three food points
Murtaza Mughal said that masses have been subjected to harsh treatment by allowing profiteers to play havoc with them and by the frequent rounds of devaluation and energy price hikes.
Budget to be the final nail in the coffin of poor
NDMA added that at least 80 houses have been damaged as torrential rain continued to play havoc across the country.
39 killed, 135 injured across country in rain related incidents: NDMA
Summary: Rumours of child abductors play havoc in the city
Hyderabad: Woman saved from being lynched
As humans we tend to pay the bill Nature at times can play havoc with our lives It does as it pleases without compromise Nature creates beauty as well as hell And miracles at times as well Mother Nature can make and also break Given birth this is a chance we take Nature's greatest creation is the earth And the second is of course our birth GEORGE MCLANDERS
POEM OF THE DAY
| Gareth Bale has stopped driving Lamborghinis because the supercars 'play havoc with my hamstrings' @GARETHBALE11/TWITTER
Supercar 'plays havoc with hamstrings'
Clearly learly Youthful outhful Y Blemish lemish Treatment Gel, PS6.99, reatment Gel, PS6.99, TS could play havoc with your skin.
Facetime; Freshest face in the jungle
QUINTON DE KOCK scored his third successive century and AB de Villiers top-scored with 109 only for rain to play havoc with the third one-day inter national between South Africa and India, which was eventually abandoned at Centurion.
Kock of the South! S AFRICA V INDIA
WITH many teams still trying hard to catch up with their backlog of games, the number of surprise results continues to play havoc with teams' prospects of winning league titles.
Backlog is biting
Too much food or alcohol just before bedtime can play havoc with sleep patterns.
Family Life: Three ways to... Health and fitness ...get a good night's sleep
These high temperatures can play havoc with older versions of the modern burner unit (MBU) or MBUs that haven't been upgraded by MWO 7310-281-55-1.
If you can't take the heat ..
Light and air are natural incubators for mold and they play havoc with climate control.
Lilker performs a medical miracle at Long Island I-Park
Broad laughs don't only drown out wry grins, they play havoc with characterisation.
BUSHELL ON THE BOX: MEMO to Corrie
IT MUST play havoc with the house prices when your neighbourhood is famous for mob killings.
Arts: Boonton, New Jersey
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