1. To bet on all horses in a race other than the one favored to win. My father had this curious strategy of always playing the field when he bet on horse races. Never worked for him, though.

2. By extension, to date a variety of people rather than making a commitment to one person. I played the field a bit during college, but I prefer having a steady relationship.

to date many different people rather than just one. When Tom told Ann good-bye, he said he wanted to play the field.He said he wanted to play the field while he was still young.

Date more than one person; avoid an exclusive commitment. For example, All of Joe's friends are married now, but he continues to play the field. This term originated in British horseracing, where it meant 'to bet on every horse in a race except the favorite.' It was transferred to other activities about 1930.

If someone plays the field, they have many different romantic or sexual relationships. He gave up playing the field and married a year ago. Note: If gamblers play the field, they bet on all the horses in a race except the one that is considered most likely to win.

1936L.LefkoPublic Relations He hasn't any steady. He plays the field—blonde, brunette, or what have you.

See also: field, play

See also: field, play

To avoid committing oneself exclusively to one cause, person, and so on; specifically, to court or date more than one person at a time. This term originated in British horse-racing during the nineteenth century, where it meant to bet on every horse in a race except the favorite. It was transferred to other kinds of “risk-spreading” in the first half of the twentieth century. In 1966 a headline in the New Republic read, “Japan Plays the Field— Peace and Trade with Everyone.”