an effort to do something effective or get an advantage after the main effort has failed:an effort to do something effective or get an advantage after the main effort has failed:
Supporters trying to keep the museum open are fighting a rear-guard action.
a situation that has been dishonestly arranged by someone in order to get an advantage for themselvea situation that has been dishonestly arranged by someone in order to get an advantage for themselve
The London morning gold fix was $1,154.00 versus the previous afternoon fix of $1,139.50.
to make something seem more important or better than it really is, esp. to get an advantage:to make something seem more important or better than it really is, esp. to get an advantage:
The report plays up the benefits of the plan, but doesn’t say much about the costs.
to make a secret plan in order to get an advantage, usually by deceiving peopleto make a secret plan in order to get an advantage, usually by deceiving people
замышлять недоброе, строить тайные планы
to get an advantage over someone when agreeing a bargain (= an agreement between two people or groupto get an advantage over someone when agreeing a bargain (= an agreement between two people or group
赢得谈判;谈判胜出 The President returned from the summit meeting claiming that he had successfully outbargained the other attendees.
to have a good relationship with someone in which they like you and from which you get an advantageto have a good relationship with someone in which they like you and from which you get an advantage
（与…）保持良好关系 He\'s well in with the boss, these days. 这段时间他和老板的关系不错。
something that is done or said, often dishonestly, in order to get an advantage; a trick:something that is done or said, often dishonestly, in order to get an advantage; a trick:
a marketing ploy
something that is done or said in order to get an advantage, often dishonestly:something that is done or said in order to get an advantage, often dishonestly:
There are various ploys we can use if necessary.
to control or influence something or someone so that you get an advantage, often unfairly or dishoneto control or influence something or someone so that you get an advantage, often unfairly or dishone
He can manipulate situations mostly to his benefit.
to get an advantage over someone by doing something better, more extreme, etc. than them, or by sayito get an advantage over someone by doing something better, more extreme, etc. than them, or by sayi
胜人一筹|占上风 They were trying to one-up each other over who had had the worst year. 他们试图在这一年谁最惨的比拼上压对方一头。
