to play against someone else► play (against) · Barcelona will play Milan in the final.· This was McDaniel's first game playing against his former teammates.play tennis/golf/chess etc with somebody · Dad's out playing golf with Barry this morning.play somebody at tennis/golf etc British · I'm playing Andy at tennis this afternoon.
► face also take on to play against a person or team, especially one that will be difficult to beat - used in newspapers and broadcasts: · Tomorrow, Jane Wilkes, a first-round qualifier, takes on the world number one, Monica Seles.· UCLA will face North Carolina tonight at Pauley Pavilion.
► give somebody a game British informal to play a game against another person, especially when it is not a serious or important game: · If you want to play chess ask Maria -- she'll give you a game.
► versus against another person or team: · Yesterday in the semi-final we saw Sampras versus Henman.· It's a friendly game - the women versus the men.
► vs. also v British written abbreviation of versus: · Today's games include the Chicago Bulls vs. the Boston Celtics.· Gascoigne was back in the UK, to play in the England v France match.