Meaning of play to win | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To play in an especially competitive, committed manner, focused intently on winning.
2. To make a special, determined effort to achieve general success or a particular goal, in life, in one's career, in negotiation, etc.
   broadly, idiomatic

Examples

“"[W]e just got totally outplayed. Instead of playing to win⟳, we were playing not to lose⟳."”

“"I play⟳ to win⟳. I am playing for human lives. This, sir, is the torture, marks of which you have⟳ seen on the prisoners; but your inexperience will not detect⟳ at a glance⟳ all the diabolical ingenuity and cruelty that lurks in this piece of linen and these straps of leather."”

“"The difference between playing to win⟳ and playing not to lose⟳ is the difference between the successful executive and the security-hunting, mediocre man.”

“And Bullock could care less about the judge's threats. Like⟳ always, he was playing to win⟳.”

“Rahm Emanuel was certainly a surprising choice for chief of staff — he's a hard-cussing, old-school-campaign knife fighter and pragmatic congressional arm twister who plays to win⟳.”

CEFR level