"Played into hands" is a common expression that means inadvertently helping or benefiting someone else's cause. The phonetic transcription for this phrase would be /pleɪd ˈɪntu hændz/. The spelling of this phrase follows standard English phonetics, with the word "played" pronounced with a long "a" sound, and the phrase "into hands" pronounced with a stressed syllable on the first word and a connected speech reduction of the "to" vowel. The spelling accurately reflects the pronunciation of this idiom.
Played into hands is a phrase that refers to a situation where someone unwittingly or unintentionally contributes to the success or advantage of another person or a particular outcome that ultimately benefits someone else's interests. This idiomatic expression typically implies that someone is being indirectly manipulated or influenced by others, often to their own detriment.
When a person plays into hands, they are usually acting in a way that aligns perfectly with the desires or strategies of another individual, organization, or group. By doing so, they unintentionally provide leverage or advantages to the other party, who may exploit the situation for personal gain or to achieve their intended goals.
This phrase is commonly used to describe circumstances where someone's actions or decisions, often made in ignorance or naivety, end up benefiting an adversary or allowing them to gain the upper hand. The person who plays into hands may not realize the consequences or deceptive intentions of their actions until it is too late.
In summary, to play into hands means to unintentionally assist someone or contribute to their success through one's own actions or decisions, often to one's own disadvantage. This phrase emphasizes the element of manipulation or exploitation, whereby someone's actions inadvertently and unknowingly favor another party's goals or interests.