Meaning of play dumb | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To pretend to be dumb, either:
   idiomatic, informal
2. To feign muteness.
   idiomatic, informal
3. To feign stupidity or ignorance of some knowledge, usually in order to avoid responsibility or gain some advantage.
   idiomatic, informal

Examples

“I played dumb 'cause I knew if I talked at all, being simple and guileless, you all would twist me up and have the whole thing in a jiffy.”

“Died. Virginia Hill, 49, redheaded, free-spending playmate of the underworld... who later acted out a cameo role before the late Senator Estes Kefauver's Senate crime committee, playing dumb about the business dealings of her many racketeer friends.”

“Valchek: Kid, careers have been launched on a helluvalot less. Just... shut up and play dumb. Hauk: I can do that, no problem.”

CEFR level