Power Play Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms power play American

noun

1. Football. an aggressive running play in which numerous offensive players converge and forge ahead to block and clear a path for the ball carrier.

2. Ice Hockey.

   1. a situation in which one team has a temporary numerical advantage because an opposing player or players are in the penalty box, and hence has an opportunity for a concerted, swarming attack on the opponent's goal.

   2. the offensive strategy or effectiveness of the team having such an advantage.

3. an action, stratagem, or maneuver, as in politics or business, by which power is concentrated or manipulated in order to subdue a rival or gain control of a situation.

power play British

noun

1. behaviour or tactics intended to magnify a person's influence or power

2. the use of brute strength or force of numbers in order to achieve an objective

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of power play

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Wellalage bowled in the power play against England and finished with three wickets including captain Harry Brook.

From Barron's

"We lost too many wickets in the power play."

From Barron's

The USA failed to convert on the resulting four-minute power play, but Hughes then hit the winner in overtime.

From Barron's

Then less than a minute later, the U.S. took two penalties 28 seconds apart, giving Canada a five-on-three power play.

From Los Angeles Times

"Some of their batters are batting really well. So hopefully we can get a few wickets in the power play," he said.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.