the play wasn't up to much

put on a play — ein Stück aufführen

say/do something in play — etwas aus od. im od. zum Spaß sagen/tun

play [up]on words — Wortspiel, das

be in/out of play — [Ball:] im Spiel/aus [dem Spiel] sein

make a play for somebody/something — (fig. coll.) hinter jemandem/etwas her sein (ugs.); es auf jemanden/etwas abgesehen haben

give full play to one's emotions/imagination — etc. (fig.) seinen Gefühlen/seiner Fantasie usw. freien Lauf lassen

the play of light on water — das Spiel des Lichts auf Wasser

not have much time to play with — (coll.) zeitlich nicht viel Spielraum haben

play into somebody's hands — (fig.) jemandem in die Hand od. Hände arbeiten

play safe — sichergehen; auf Nummer Sicher gehen (ugs.)

play the violin — etc. Geige usw. spielen

play something on the piano — etc. etwas auf dem Klavier usw. spielen

play something by ear — etwas nach dem Gehör spielen

play it by ear — (fig.) es dem Augenblick/der Situation überlassen

play a town — in einer Stadt spielen

play the fool/innocent — den Clown/Unschuldigen spielen

play a trick/joke on somebody — jemanden hereinlegen (ugs.) /jemandem einen Streich spielen

play a match — einen Wettkampf bestreiten; (in team games) ein Spiel machen

he played me at chess/squash — er war im Schach/Squash mein Gegner

play one's cards right — (fig.) es richtig anfassen (fig.)

play the market — spekulieren (in mit od. Wirtsch. in + Dat.)

play on words — Wortspiel nt

children learn through play he lost £800 in a few hours' play — Kinder lernen beim Spiel er hat beim Spiel innerhalb von ein paar Stunden £ 800 verloren

in a clever piece of play, in a clever play (US) — in einem klugen Schachzug

there was some exciting play toward(s) the end — gegen Ende gab es einige spannende (Spiel)szenen

to be in play/out of play (ball) — im Spiel/im Aus sein

1 mm (of) play — 1 mm Spiel

to give full play to one's imagination — seiner Fantasie or Phantasie (dat) freien Lauf lassen

the game allows the child's imagination (to be given) full play — das Spiel gestattet die freie Entfaltung der kindlichen Fantasie

to make great play of sth (Brit) — viel Aufhebens von etw machen

to make great play of doing sth (Brit) — viel Wind darum machen, etw zu tun

to make a play for sth — es auf etw (acc) abgesehen haben

to play it safe — auf Nummer sicher gehen (inf)

he wouldn't play (fig inf) — er wollte nicht mitspielen (inf)

he's just playing at it — er tut nur so

what are you playing at? (inf) — was soll (denn) das? (inf)

to play for time (fig) — Zeit gewinnen wollen

to play into sb's hands (fig) — jdm in die Hände spielen

say/do something in play — etwas aus od. im od. zum Spaß sagen/tun

play [up]on words — Wortspiel, das

be in/out of play — [Ball:] im Spiel/aus [dem Spiel] sein

make a play for somebody/something — (fig. coll.) hinter jemandem/etwas her sein (ugs.); es auf jemanden/etwas abgesehen haben

give full play to one's emotions/imagination — etc. (fig.) seinen Gefühlen/seiner Fantasie usw. freien Lauf lassen

not have much time to play with — (coll.) zeitlich nicht viel Spielraum haben

play into somebody's hands — (fig.) jemandem in die Hand od. Hände arbeiten

play safe — sichergehen; auf Nummer Sicher gehen (ugs.)

play the violin — etc. Geige usw. spielen

play something on the piano — etc. etwas auf dem Klavier usw. spielen

play it by ear — (fig.) es dem Augenblick/der Situation überlassen

play a trick/joke on somebody — jemanden hereinlegen (ugs.) /jemandem einen Streich spielen

play a match — einen Wettkampf bestreiten; (in team games) ein Spiel machen

play one's cards right — (fig.) es richtig anfassen (fig.)

play the market — spekulieren (in mit od. Wirtsch. in + Dat.)

i bambini che vedi nel cortile — the children whom o that you see in the yard

il libro che è sul tavolo — the book which o that is on the table

dovrei ottenere il massimo dei voti, il che è improbabile — I would have to get top marks, which is unlikely

un certo non so che — an indefinable something

quel film non era un gran che — that film was nothing special

quella ragazza ha un non so che di affascinante — there's something fascinating about that girl

che vestito ti vuoi mettere? — what (o which) dress do you want to put on?

che bel vestito! — what a lovely dress!

che buono! — how delicious!

guarda in che stato sei ridotto! — look at the mess you're in!

ero così felice che corsi a dirlo a tutti — I was so happy (that) I ran off to tell everyone

nasconditi qui che non ti veda nessuno — hide here, so nobody can see you

so che tu c'eri — I know (that) you were there

voglio che tu venga — I want you to come

sono anni che non lo vedo — I haven't seen him for o in years, it's years since I saw him

era appena uscita di casa che suonò il telefono — she had no sooner gone out than o she had hardly gone out when the telephone rang

arrivai che eri già partito — you had already left when I arrived

non è che non mi interessi la commedia, è che sono stanco e vorrei andare a letto — it's not that the play doesn't interest me, it's just that I'm tired and I'd like to go to bed

che tu venga o no, noi partiamo lo stesso — we're leaving whether you come or not

è più furbo che intelligente — he's more cunning than intelligent

non c'è di che! — (formula di cortesia) you're welcome! don't mention it! (con valore temporale)

l'estate che ci siamo conosciuti — the summer when o in which we met

a che cosa stai pensando? — what are you thinking of o about?

è probabile che venga — he is likely to come; (dopo verbi di volontà o comando)

ogni volta che vieni — every time you come; (finché)

he's 40-15 up — (in tennis) è in vantaggio per 40-15

to be o come up against opposition fig. incontrare resistenza; they're up against a very strong team devono affrontare una squadra molto forte; it helps to know what you are up against aiuta sapere con che cosa hai a che fare; we're really up against it — siamo alle prese con un bel problema

I'm not up to it — (not capable) non sono in grado di farlo; (not well enough) non me la sento di farlo

it's up to him to do — (expressing responsibility) spetta o sta a lui fare

to walk o pace up and down (to and fro) fare o andare su e giù; he's a bit up and down at the moment — (depressed) ultimamente è un po' giù di corda; (ill) in questo periodo sta poco bene

he was walking up and down the garden — stava camminando su e giù per il giardino; (throughout)

up yours! — pop. fottiti!

it's all up with him — colloq. ormai è spacciato

"this side up" — (on parcel, box) "alto"

his blood's up — fig. gli è andato il sangue alla testa

to be up and running — [company, project] bene avviato; [ system] pienamente funzionante

to be (well) up on — essere ferrato in [art, history]; essere aggiornato su [news, developments]

the company is on the up and up — BE la ditta sta andando a gonfie vele

he's 40-15 up — (in tennis) è in vantaggio per 40-15

to be o come up against opposition fig. incontrare resistenza; they're up against a very strong team devono affrontare una squadra molto forte; it helps to know what you are up against aiuta sapere con che cosa hai a che fare; we're really up against it — siamo alle prese con un bel problema

I'm not up to it — (not capable) non sono in grado di farlo; (not well enough) non me la sento di farlo

it's up to him to do — (expressing responsibility) spetta o sta a lui fare

to walk o pace up and down (to and fro) fare o andare su e giù; he's a bit up and down at the moment — (depressed) ultimamente è un po' giù di corda; (ill) in questo periodo sta poco bene

he was walking up and down the garden — stava camminando su e giù per il giardino; (throughout)

up yours! — pop. fottiti!

it's all up with him — colloq. ormai è spacciato

"this side up" — (on parcel, box) "alto"

his blood's up — fig. gli è andato il sangue alla testa

to be up and running — [company, project] bene avviato; [ system] pienamente funzionante

to be (well) up on — essere ferrato in [art, history]; essere aggiornato su [news, developments]

the company is on the up and up — BE la ditta sta andando a gonfie vele