To play the Jack
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To play the rogue, the knave. To deceive or lead astray like Jack-o'- lantern, or ignis fatuus.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “To play the Jack” mean?
To play the rogue, the knave. To deceive or lead astray like Jack-o'- lantern, or ignis fatuus.
Is “To play the Jack” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.