What Is Playing Possum

Playing Possum Meaning Definition: Pretending to be dead. People typically play possum to avoid something negative, such as being attacked, or to trick someone else. Origin of Playing Possum This expression comes from a type of marsupial called an opossum.

This animal is famous for its defense tactic. Possums pretend to be dead whenever they perceive a threat. Over time, people began to.

Origins and Historical Context of the Idiom "play possum" The idiom "play possum" is a phrase that has been used for centuries, but where did it come from? What is the historical context behind this peculiar expression? To understand the origins of "play possum," we must first look at the behavior of actual opossums. The phrase to play, also to act, possum [cf. footnote] means to pretend to be dead, asleep, ignorant, etc., in order to deceive an opponent, in allusion to the opossum's supposed habit of feigning death when threatened or attacked.

"Play possum" is a lively, vivid phrase that describes pretending to be dead or unresponsive-much like the nocturnal mammal, the opossum. Its strategic use spans casual storytelling, humorous anecdotes, and even some professional contexts. Learn the meaning of "playing possum" and read about this phrase's origin.

Also, see examples of this common saying! PLAY POSSUM definition: 1. to pretend to be dead or sleeping so that someone will not annoy or attack you: 2.

to pretend.. Definition of play possum in the Idioms Dictionary. play possum phrase.

What does play possum expression mean? Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. Play possum definition: Pretend to be dead or asleep, as in Max always plays possum when it's time to clean up his room. This expression alludes to the fact that the opossum falls into an apparent coma when caught, giving the appearance of death.

[1820s]. See examples of PLAY POSSUM used in a sentence. When you play possum, you play dead.

If your cat has an alarming habit of pretending to be dead, you can say that she likes to play possum. play possum (third-person singular simple present plays possum, present participle playing possum, simple past and past participle played possum) (idiomatic) To feign death; to remain quiet and still to escape attention or remain undetected; to lie low. quotations.