What Does "Play the Race Card" Mean?
"Play the race card" is an English idiom. It means "to use or manipulate issues of race, ethnicity, or identity, often as a strategy to gain advantage or deflect criticism."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "play the race card" used in a sentence:- Accusations of playing the race card can be divisive and hinder productive discussions about racial issues.
- During the political campaign, there were allegations of candidates playing the race card to appeal to specific voter demographics.
- In sensitive discussions about race and discrimination, it's crucial to avoid playing the race card and instead focus on meaningful dialogue.
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 the Race Card" 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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