Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

play hob with

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.76 in modern English

Syllables: play hob with
IPA

27

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

1

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

mess with, cause trouble for

British usage; Dated

Example Sentences

"They say it's playing hob with the fellers in these here parts."
"The revolutionists who are playing hob with our generation are really masters of the obsolete."
"It'll play hob with my sleep schedule but I suppose it can't be helped. Please let the house elves know that if I ask for an early breakfast at, say, three A.M. tomorrow morning, I'm to receive it."

Etymology

From Middle English Hob (a diminutive of Robin, from Old French [Term?], a diminutive of Robert) in its connection with Robin Goodfellow and (subsequently) the devil. Compare hobgoblin.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: Hob

Usage

British usage
Dated

Inflected Forms

plays hob with (present, singular) playing hob with (participle, present) played hob with (participle, past) played hob with (past)

Synonyms

mess with play the devil

Questions

What does play hob with mean?: mess with, cause trouble for
Where does play hob with come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce play hob with

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