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play dumb

简体
play dumb
装傻

Date: Aug 01 2013

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

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“I hated those series where the children were brighter than the parents, and those parents had to play dumb.”
- Bill Cosby on The Cosby Show (Us Weekly)

“我讨厌那些电视剧情节,孩子比家长聪明,那些父母必须要装傻。”

- 比尔·考斯比 (Bill Cosby) 谈论《考斯比一家》(The Cosby Show)

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

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pretend like you don’t know something that you do know

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

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You’re out on a first date, and your date is excited to tell you about an article he or she just read about astrophysics. Not only is he or she really excited to tell you about the information, but you can tell that your date really enjoys impressing you with the knowledge. The only problem is that you actually have a degree in astrophysics. So what do you do: do you tell your date that you already know all about it, or do you play dumb?

People often play dumb to make someone they’re with feel smarter. Or, sometimes you might play dumb if you caused some trouble and wanted to pretend you didn’t know what had happened. For example, if you broke a bowl and your mother came in and asked who did it, you might say, “I don’t know. Who could have done that?” If you do that, you’d be playing dumb.

People sometimes also play dumb for laughs. Actor and comedian Bill Cosby was sick of TV shows where the kids acted smarter than the parents, just to make a joke. He created The Cosby Show as a realistic scenario where adults act like adults, and kids like kids.

Have you ever played dumb? Do you ever think it’s a good idea to act less smart than you are?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

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“The police asked where the criminals went, but their friends played dumb and said they didn’t know.”

“She’s really smart, but she thinks guys won’t like her if they know that, so she plays dumb.”

“When she asked if I knew it was her birthday, I played dumb. I didn’t want to let her know I was planning a surprise party.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

Playing dumb is pretending that you don't know something when you do know it.
by englishteacher24/7
a2020 act like a person who is stupid,idiot.
by a2020
To pretend not to know or understand sth.
by zhaleh hoor
samaneh64 pretend to be stupid
by samaneh64
icepen pretend to be unknowledgeable
by icepen
Manu4 To pretend being stupid.
by Manu4
dearpesar act like a stupid fool person
by dearpesar
cubi1604 Pretend to be foolish or stupid
by cubi1604

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Comments

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Mr. Learner

Peru

@Ola33, 100% agree.

02:13 AM Aug 05 2013 |

1 person likes this

ola33

ola33

Japan

Yes, Mr Learner, or just some say that you’ve already told that story many many times. Communication is one of the great things especially for the grateful listener. Why not to enjoy it for the second/third time. In this case playing dumb will tell you more about a person, it will tell you how that story is special or that exact story by some reason overshadows the other ones in his/her mind.

02:08 AM Aug 05 2013 |

Mr. Learner

Peru

In my culture, it is impolite to interrupt someone’s speech and tell him that you already know what is he is talking about. So, I usually play dumb.
However, many people here don’t consider this as an impolite act. So, they’ll interrupt you and tell you that they already know what your are talking about.

02:37 AM Aug 04 2013 |

1 person likes this

derek lu

China

   I think playing dump is very useful sometimes.For example,You just need to play dump and do it by yourself When your girlfriend is angry with you for housework.It’s not a big deal, never argue with her,Because women are always right.If you love your girlfriend.It’s the best way to deal.


     another example,you got a problem at work.You need to paly dump when your boss is angry.You can explain to your boss when he calms down.At that time I believe you can find a good way to make it up together,In this process your boss will find why you made the mistake and you will get some experence.May be they will make a big different on your way to succeed in the future.

07:13 AM Aug 03 2013 |

kananii

Albania

playing like you don’t know anything about the issue.

01:43 AM Aug 02 2013 |

ola33

ola33

Japan

No speak, no hear, no see…


How can you stay indifferent to rudeness, nonsense, insults. It’s hypocrisy.

06:05 PM Aug 01 2013 |

jef_maiko

jef_maiko

Brazil

I already played dumb. I think you have to be humble, if you are specialist in a field but other person doesn’t know about that, with careful words you can show up knowledge. Other thing is pretend that you don’t know about something, in this case is a lie.

03:58 PM Aug 01 2013 |

kenlin16

kenlin16

Taiwan

I used to play dumb once a while but eventually I don’t need to do that any more. It’s because  I am a dumb person. Although I have a master degree in IEEE,there are a lots of things I don’t know. I don’t need to pretend . Just being myself with a humble mind , that way I can enjoy the life all the time.

03:56 PM Aug 01 2013 |

Soul_Mate

Soul_Mate

Canada

All people sometimes play three monkeys ..no see,no speak,no hear..


Coz it is taught us consciously or unconsciously by our familes, when we were child .and it turns to a habit by time .We discover unbelievable power on it for avoiding from fightings,punishments,troubles,argues…


at last, as a famous writter said ” noone can be dumb as whos dont want to hear ” 


02:57 PM Aug 01 2013 |

1 person likes this

Belinassi

Belinassi

Brazil

A person that know about sb/sth what happened and pretend don’t know.Tha’s for me is impolite and stupid.
by Belinassi

02:56 PM Aug 01 2013 |

2 people like this

samand55

samand55

Azerbaijan

I like children in this topic, when ask them not to tell anyone about the serious matter, no one remains that know nothing about that!!! and when they should say the truth, by any reason they play dumb and also think nobody realize it, but what can we parents do?nothing just laughing, i think. 

02:51 PM Aug 01 2013 |

1 person likes this

ola33

ola33

Japan

Honesty is always the best policy for me. I’m Estonian:) and  take everything at face value :))


Well, jokes aside. Being loayl shows that you’re not shallow, you’re a person of deep thinking, with a good soul and you can make a good friend.

02:21 PM Aug 01 2013 |

1 person likes this

Fiary

Fiary

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

To be honest , I am that kind of person  who try to be wise infront of wise people, fool with fools, happy with happy ones  , sad with sads and kid with kids ( not with my love who i have to be always myself infront of him to feel comfortable ) . I don’t know if it’s a good quality or not but i feel more comfortable this way . Maybe you call it playing dumb but if it is so, i like to play dumb …...:)

10:41 AM Aug 01 2013 |

1 person likes this

drallon

drallon

China

Sometimes,I will choose playing dumb when someone tell me some news and he thinks I donot know it. I think it can give him feeling well and help me geting along with them. And also we can chat much better

05:42 AM Aug 01 2013 |

2 people like this

Coolblack

Coolblack

United States

I think it’s depend the circunstance, sometimes its good to pretend that you don’t actually know nothing. 

02:14 AM Aug 01 2013 |

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