Play Someone Like a Fiddle

What Does "Play Someone Like a Fiddle" Mean?

"Play someone like a fiddle" is an English idiom. It means "to manipulate or control someone skillfully for one's benefit; to deceive or exploit someone's emotions or vulnerabilities."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "play someone like a fiddle" used in a sentence:

• She played him like a fiddle, making him believe she genuinely cared while using him for her own purposes.
• The con artist had a talent for playing people like fiddles and swindling them out of their money.
• He felt embarrassed for allowing others to play him like a fiddle, and he vowed to be more cautious in the future.

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 Someone Like a Fiddle" 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.

A Quick Test

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