give play

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "give play" is correct and can be used in written English, though it may not be very common.
It is typically used in contexts where one is allowing or enabling something to happen, often in a creative or playful manner. Example: "The director decided to give play to the actors' improvisation skills during the rehearsal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"You can't give play by play about an investigation," he said.

The New York Times

"China will do more to enhance gender equality as its basic state policy, give play to women's important role as 'half the sky' and support them in realising their own dreams and aspirations in both career and life," he said.

The Guardian

A place where people come to gather, grow, share, love, give, play, watch, listen and learn.

Huffington Post

Tolkien considered Quenya to be "the one language which has been designed to give play to my own most normal phonetic taste".

Wikipedia

"A forthright denunciation of a meaningless [and] cruel superstitious rite[s]", the Bengali originals feature intricate subplots and prolonged monologues that give play to historical events in seventeenth-century Udaipur.

Wikipedia

Human Revolution wasn't exactly a work of sunny, Steve Jobsian optimism, but it did give play to the idea of a "golden age" in cybernetics and transhumanism, with entrepreneurs like David Sarif free to meddle with our God-given flesh for the supposed betterment of civilisation.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

There are many steps that networks could take to add value and deliver a better experience, says Fader. "These networks have the breadth of content and could do things like have celebrity interviews" or get a comedian to give play-by-play commentary on a recent episode.

Forbes

A telltale sign the gore was too much, Conan would give play-by-plays for very obvious things.

Huffington Post

Even what is wrong on any given play.

The New York Times - Sports

Thus, the musical contents of a given play may change with different productions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Despite much scholarly argument, it is often impossible to date a given play precisely.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "give play" when you want to emphasize allowing something to manifest or develop, especially in a creative or abstract sense. It suggests creating space or opportunity for something to happen.

Common error

Avoid using "give play" in scenarios where a more direct verb is appropriate. For instance, instead of saying "give play to the children with toys", use "give the children toys to play with".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "give play" functions as a verb phrase where "give" acts as a transitive verb and "play" functions as a noun, indicating the action of allowing something to unfold or manifest. Ludwig AI confirms its use in enabling certain actions or providing opportunities.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Wiki

21%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "give play" is a grammatically sound and somewhat uncommon expression used to describe the act of allowing something to manifest or develop. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that while correct, its usage is more frequently found in news, wiki, and scientific contexts. Alternative phrases include "allow expression" and "encourage creativity". When using this phrase, be mindful of its slightly formal tone and ensure it aligns with the context of your writing. Avoid overusing it in direct physical scenarios where more specific verbs might be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allow expression

Focuses on permitting the articulation or manifestation of something.

encourage creativity

Highlights fostering an environment that promotes innovative thinking.

offer possibilities

Emphasizes providing potential opportunities or chances.

enable action

Concentrates on facilitating or making an action possible.

foster development

Stresses promoting the growth or advancement of something.

permit exploration

Focuses on allowing the investigation or discovery of something.

grant freedom

Emphasizes bestowing liberty or autonomy.

provide scope

Highlights offering a range or extent for something.

afford opportunity

Focuses on giving a chance or occasion for something.

open avenues

Emphasizes creating new pathways or directions.

FAQs

How can I use "give play" in a sentence?

Use "give play" to describe providing scope or opportunity for something to manifest. For example, "The new policy aims to "give play" to innovative ideas within the company."

What does "give play" mean?

"Give play" means to allow something freedom of movement or expression, or to provide an opportunity for something to develop.

What can I say instead of "give play"?

You can use alternatives like "allow expression", "encourage creativity", or "offer possibilities" depending on the context.

Is "give play" formal or informal language?

"Give play" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It's suitable for news articles, academic writing, and professional contexts but may be less common in everyday conversation.