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Play Old Harry

What Does "Play Old Harry" Mean?

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"Play old harry" is an English idiom. It means "to create chaos, trouble, or mischief; to act in a disruptive or troublesome manner."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "play old harry" used in a sentence:
  • The mischievous children played Old Harry during the family gathering, making a mess in the house.
  • When the computer system crashed, it seemed like someone had played Old Harry with the files.
  • He warned his employees not to play Old Harry with company resources or equipment.
meaning for play old harry

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Play Old Harry" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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