Question I don't want to play you

[hirashin]

Dear native English speakers,
this is from BBC site.

Osaka fights back to win US Open

Naomi Osaka fights back against Victoria Azarenka in a gripping US Open final to claim her third Grand Slam title with a 1-6 6-3 6-3 victory.

www.bbc.com

I think "play you" is incorrect. What do you think?

"I don't want to play you in any more finals, I didn't really enjoy that, it was a really tough match for me," Osaka jokingly told Azarenka.

 

[Majestic]

It is understandable. It might be more complete (correct) to say, "I don't want to play against you", but I don't think anyone would consider "play you" as a mistake. At least not in the spoken context you posted above.

 

[Uncle Frank]

I like "play against" also. Just "play you" has another negative meaning sometimes. If I "play you" it can mean I trick , use , or manipulate you somehow for my personal gain.( kind of a criminal meaning"

 

[mdchachi]

It can also mean to act as someone such as an actor playing a character. But I agree with Majestic that it sounds ok in context.

 

[hirashin]

Oh, really? Thank you for the help, everyone. The more I know English, the more it becomes complicated. (Am I making sense?)

 

[Buntaro]

I think "play you" is incorrect.

"Play you" is not "incorrect" it is "conversational". You should not expect written English and spoken English to be the same.

 

[Michael2]

It's completely normal in England.
S play O
"Arsenal will play Liverpool in the FA Cup Final"

 

[hirashin]

Thank you for the help, Buntaro and Michael2.

 

[johnnyG]

It sounds completely normal to me--one team is typically/commonly said to play another. Something like:

The Tigers are playing the Giants tonight.

... is perfectly normal/acceptable.


((Tho for other reasons, you probably wouldn't say, "The Lakers are playing the Bears this weekend." )

 

[hirashin]

Thanks, johnnyG.

 

[tomoni]

IMO, Perfectly fine. It is a commonly spoken expression (though I think more common in NA).

Cheers