Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

play possum

Idiomatic expression

/ˈpleɪ ˈpɒs.əm/

Definition

To pretend to be dead or incapacitated as a form of deception or self-defense.

Examples

During the argument, he decided to play possum, hoping that his opponent would lose interest.
She played possum in the meeting, pretending she didn’t know about the upcoming changes.

Meaning

This phrase originates from the behavior of the opossum, which is known for playing dead when threatened. It means to feign ignorance or inactivity in order to avoid trouble or to take advantage of a situation.