play the angles
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: plays the angles
form: playing the angles
form: played the angles
form: played the angles
Senses: examples: text: In a town where everybody plays the angles and wholesomeness is something of an aberration, Julie Andrews, 31, is tolerated as a delightful kook.
ref: 1966 December 23, “Stars: The Now & Future Queen”, in Time, retrieved 27 Feb 2014:
text: She told him that she was dangerous, that she couldn't be trusted, that all she wanted to do in her life was play the angles and stick it to anybody who gave her the opportunity.
ref: 2007, Pete Hautman, All-in, →ISBN, page 40:
text: Iran, always playing the angles, is still trying to figure out how much economic pain it is willing to accept to maintain its nuclear ambitions and what, if anything, it is willing to give up.
ref: 2012 June 21, “Editorial: Sanctions Against Iran”, in New York Times, retrieved 27 Feb 2014:
text: For tax evaders and those playing the angles, a network of accountants, lawyers and bankers is ready to set up shell companies and phony trusts to hide behind.
ref: 2012 February 13, Connie Cass, “At least your money can live like a millionaire's”, in Businessweek, retrieved 01 Mar 2014:
glosses: To seek ways to advance one's self-interest, especially by making choices in a calculating or crafty manner; to scheme.
examples: text: Stengel also had trouble with balls bouncing off the outfield fences. . . . "If you want somebody to play the angles," the frustrated rookie replied, "why don't you hire a pool player?"
ref: 1996, Robert W. Creamer, Stengel: His Life and Times, →ISBN, page 43:
text: “It’s good to get back on the ice and back to NHL habits,” Smid said. “The rink is a little bit smaller here and you’ve got to play the angles differently.”
ref: 2014 February 23, James Emery, “Flames welcome back Olympians Smid, Berra”, in Calgary Sun, Canada, retrieved 01 Mar 2014:
topics: hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: In a game which involves control of a moving object, such as a ball or puck, to allow for angular movements of the object caused by bounces, rebounds, ricochets, etc. or to carefully guard the corners of the goal, net, or other scoring target.
raw_tags: of a defensive player or goaltender
examples: text: McEnroe was broken again in the sixth game, making three uncharacteristic errors. His volleys lacked crispness. Instead of playing the angles, he was hitting them right back to Mayotte.
ref: 1987 February 9, Peter Alfano, “Tennis: Mayotte defeats McEnroe in 4 sets”, in New York Times, retrieved 01 Mar 2014:
text: Whoever is playing for Arsenal, they just love to cram central areas and knock the ball around in the attacking third. Whether they are playing the angles with quick one-twos, or passing and following the path of the ball, they are forever moving you around defensively.
ref: 2014 March 1, Mike Pejic, “Making the Britannia Stadium a fortress key to Stoke City's Premier League survival”, in The Sentinel, UK, retrieved 01 Mar 2014:
topics: hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: In a game which involves control of a moving object, such as a ball or puck, to seek scoring opportunities by advancing on or shooting at the scoring target in an angular manner across the field of play.
raw_tags: of an offensive player
Synonyms: work the angles