Play off has 2 different meanings across 1 category:
Verb
Verb
1
set into opposition or rivalry
"let them match their best athletes against ours"
"pit a chess player against the Russian champion"
"He plays his two children off against each other"
2
To pretend not to be embarrassed, upset, impressed, or otherwise affected by something.
Example Sentences
"let them match their best athletes against ours"
verb
"pit a chess player against the Russian champion"
verb
"He plays his two children off against each other"
verb
Broader Terms (hypernyms)