simple past tense and past participle of play the man and not the ball

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of play the man and not the ball

(sports) To attack an opponent instead of attacking the ball, which is usually being controlled by the attacked player at the time.

present participle of play the man and not the ball

(obsolete, UK, thieves' cant, historical) A mentally ill beggar. / (obsolete, UK, thieves' cant, historical) By extension, any beggar who pretends to be ill, physically or mentally, to obtain alms.

A minister or priest. / A prophet. / Any godly man.

A worldly or sophisticated man, one well versed in the ways and dealings of humankind.

(dated) A literary man; a scholar or author.

(military, archaic except humorous) A man whose occupation is fighting in wars; a soldier, a warrior.

Alternative form of man-of-war