play innocent

USAGE SUMMARY

"play innocent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize pretending not to know or understand something. For example, "When questioned about the disappearance of the money, she played innocent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Children play innocent games.

The New York Times - Arts

Rather than play innocent about these dynamics, "Sherlock" mines them heavily, for humor and frisson.

The New Yorker

Mila Kunis is now the favourite contender to play innocent Anastasia Steele, with odds of 3/1.

Independent

In a sense, there is only one Anouilh play: innocent young love is always destroyed by meretricious worldlings.

The Guardian

They demonstrate that the United States, which has long been trying to play innocent as a victim of cyber attacks, has turned out to be the biggest villain in our age".

The New Yorker

Xinhua, the state-owned Chinese news agency, editorialized that "the United States, which has long been trying to play innocent as a victim of cyberattacks, has turned out to be the biggest villain in our age".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Performing for the camera, starring as themselves, Jessie, Emmett, and Virginia play innocents with a narcissistic streak and an erotic edge.

The New Yorker

Naomi Watts plays innocent Hollywood wannabe Betty Elms, Laura Harring plays the mysterious older woman, Rita, who befriends her.

The Guardian

Cheggers plays innocent Keith Chegwin If you're one of his 36,000 followers, you already know that he posts jokes on Twitter.

The Guardian

But instead of acknowledging this and taking corrective action to sell a better product more responsibly, food processors played innocent by blending in with the crowd of causes.

The New York Times

Reeve plays innocent but not dumb, and the combination of his Pop jawline and physique with his unassuming manner makes him immediately likable.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "play innocent" to describe someone who is feigning ignorance or lack of involvement, especially when they are suspected of wrongdoing. It adds a layer of suspicion and implies a deliberate act of deception.

Common error

Avoid using "play innocent" when someone is genuinely unaware, as it implies deception. Instead, reserve it for situations where someone is suspected of concealing their knowledge or involvement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "play innocent" functions as a verb phrase. It describes the action of feigning innocence or ignorance. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "play innocent" is used to describe the act of pretending to be unaware or uninvolved, usually to avoid blame or suspicion. Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct and usable in English. Its prevalence in news and media suggests its usefulness in describing situations involving potential deception, while its presence in Wiki entries shows its general understanding. While "play innocent" is not exceedingly common, understanding its nuanced implication of deceit is useful for anyone interested in becoming a more skillful communicator. Some alternative phrases for "play innocent" include "feign innocence" or "act naive".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feign innocence

Emphasizes the act of pretending to be innocent, similar to "play innocent".

act naive

Focuses on behaving as if one lacks experience or knowledge.

pretend ignorance

Highlights the simulation of not knowing something.

feign ignorance

Similar to pretend ignorance but with a more formal tone.

put on an innocent face

Focuses on the visual aspect of appearing innocent.

masquerade as innocent

Suggests a deceptive appearance of innocence.

feign naivety

Similar to act naive but can imply a more deliberate deception.

affect ignorance

Deliberately adopting the persona of someone uninformed.

make believe innocent

Suggests a childlike or theatrical pretense.

pose as innocent

Implies a calculated attempt to appear innocent.

FAQs

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

You can say, "Despite the evidence, he continued to "play innocent", denying any knowledge of the crime."

What does it mean to "play innocent"?

To ""play innocent"" means to pretend that you don't know anything about something, especially something bad or illegal.

Which is a better alternative to "play innocent": "feign innocence" or "be ignorant"?

"Feign innocence" is a better alternative because it implies deception, while "be ignorant" simply means lacking knowledge.

Is it correct to say someone is "playing innocent"?

Yes, it's correct. "Play innocent" is a common idiom used to describe someone who is pretending not to know something or not to be involved in something.