play into hands
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Related to play into hands: play into someone's hands
play (right) into (one's) hands
To unwittingly do exactly what someone wants or needs in order for their plans or schemes to succeed. Don't waste your time investigating her husband! You're playing into the real killer's hands! These media reports play right into the senator's hands—he just wants something else to distract from the important issues.
play into someone's hands
Fig. [for a person one is scheming against] to assist one in one's scheming without realizing it. John is doing exactly what I hoped he would. He's playing into my hands. John played into my hands by taking the cash he found in my desk. I caught him and had him arrested.
play into the hands of
Act so as to give an advantage to an opponent, as in The senator played right into the hands of her opponents when she backed that unpopular amendment to the tax bill . [c. 1700]
play into (someone's) hands
To act or behave so as to give an advantage to an opponent.