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play possum

To dissemble or to feign ignorance; to disguise or conceal something in order to deceive.

Etymology:

  • English play + possum, from the behaviour of the Virginia opossum, feigning death when threatened. First documented 1822.
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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'play possum':

play possumTo feign death; to remain quiet and still to escape attention or remain undetected; to lay low.
play possumTo feign sleep, illness, etc.
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Nearby phrases

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