What Does "Playing The Field" Mean?

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asked 8 months ago

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I think it derives from an expression used about gamblers in the horse-racing world.

Generally, it means to spread your bets around, ie, not tie yourself to just one option.

Often it is a euphemism for someone being 'footloose' or even promiscuous - if a man or woman is said to be 'playing the field', they are not tying themselves to one partner, but instead, trying out a whole host of partners, possibly with a view to finding someone permanent, but sometimes just for the fun of it.

For young men (and probably women these days), it is another term for 'sowing their wild oats' ie, taking several sexual partners before a lifelong commitment to just one.