play into someone's hands

English

Alternative forms

• play into someone's hand

Verb

play into someone's hands (third-person singular simple present plays into someone's hands, present participle playing into someone's hands, simple past and past participle played into someone's hands)

1. To act, or to manage matters, to someone's advantage or benefit.
   • 2023 March 23, Phil McNulty, “Italy 1-2 England”, in BBC Sport‎^[1]:

     It had been suggested Napoli's fans struggle to form an attachment with the Italy team and their silence throughout the first half and reaction at half time suggested they could hardly wait to get back to throwing their passion and fire behind their own team as they run away with Serie A and chase the Champions League.
     The subdued mood played into England's hands, Gareth Southgate's side only making life difficult for themselves with their own indifferent showing that almost allowed Italy back in.

Translations

to act to someone's advantage

• Finnish: pelata jonkun pussiin
• French: faire le jeu de (fr)
• German: jemandem in die Hände spielen
• Polish: działać na czyjąś korzyść impf
• Russian: игра́ть на́ руку impf (igrátʹ ná ruku) кому-либо