play possum

Verb

idiomatic dated

Japanese Meaning

（慣用句）死んだふりをする、または寝たふり、病気のふりをして気配を消すことで、目立たないように身を潜めること。 / （比喩的に）用心深く行動し、周囲に気づかれないように立ち回ること。

When the park ranger approached, the injured opossum decided to play possum until help arrived.

公園のレンジャーが近づくと、負傷したオポッサムは助けが来るまで死んだふりをすることにした。

Sense（1）

(idiomatic) To feign death; to remain quiet and still to escape attention or remain undetected; to lie low.

Thinking fast, we played possum, hoping the bear wouldn't bother us.

Sense（2）

(idiomatic) To feign sleep, illness, etc.

When we used to get home late at night, I would play possum so my daddy would carry me inside and put me in bed.

Sense（3）

(idiomatic, dated) To dissemble or to feign ignorance; to disguise or conceal something in order to deceive.

plays possum

（ present singular third-person ）

playing possum

（ participle present ）

played possum

（ participle past ）

played possum

（ past ）