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play fast and loose

To ignore proper behavior or social conventions, especially when it suits ones purpose.

Etymology:

  • From the con game Fast-and-loose, a cheating game played with a stick and a belt or string, so arranged that a spectator would think he could make the latter fast by placing a stick through its intricate folds, whereas the operator could detach it at once.
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I cannot say that the there were any outright lies in the editorial, but it does play fast and loose with the truth.

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'play fast and loose':

play fast and looseTo be recklessly inaccurate, inappropriate, or otherwise ignoring guidelines and conventions.
Play Fast and LooseTo be capricious and irresponsible, to do all that pleases one without caring to have offended others
See them all »

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to play fast and loose

Play Cat and Mouseplay both sides against the middleplay hardballplay awayplay for timeplay ballplay dumbplay gamesplay hookyplay atplay ballplay first fiddleplay dumbplay by ear

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    "play fast and loose." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/play-fast-and-loose_6137>.

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