Definitions for play the white man
play the white man

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. play the white manverb

   To act with honour, decency and responsibility

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Play the white man

   To play the white man is an idiom which is used in parts of Great Britain and it means that someone is attempting to be decent and trustworthy in his or her actions. The phrase is commonly used by natives of the Yorkshire and the Humber region.A similar expression, which originated in the Southern United States in the 20th century, is that's mighty white of you and variations of it, and they mean "thank you for being fair." Because of its racist connotations, since the mid-to-late 20th century, it has mostly been used ironically when it has been used at all.In film lore, the phrase that's mighty white of you was used in the movie After the Thin Man (1936) by the character Nick Charles as said to character Dancer, the night club host, who stated he would pay for all the drinks at Nick's table. A year later in another William Powell / Myrna Loy film Double Wedding (1937), the phrase is used by the character Mrs. Bly. It's also used in other classic-era films like Whistling in Brooklyn (1943) by the character Wally Benton and Western Union (1941) by the character Vance Shaw. It is also used by Clint Eastwood as Inspector Harry Callaghan in the 1976 film The Enforcer, and by Sean Penn's character, Mr. Wasey, in the 1986 movie, Shanghai Surprise. It is used as a typical 1937 Southern expression in the film O Brother Where Art Thou (2000)

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1. play the white man

   "Play the white man" is a colloquial expression that is often used to describe someone who is acting in a fair, honest, or honorable manner, particularly in situations involving power dynamics, race, or cultural differences. It can also refer to someone who is conforming to societal norms or expectations. The phrase originates from the historical context of white privilege, where people of certain racial or ethnic backgrounds were afforded more opportunities and advantages than others. However, it is important to note that the expression can be considered outdated or offensive, as it reinforces racial stereotypes and may perpetuate inequality.

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1. Play the white man

   Play the white man is a term used in parts of England meaning to be decent and trustworthy in one's actions. The origin of the phrase is obscure. The term carries with it a reference to an obligation which many English civil administrators in the latter years of the British Empire might have considered themselves to be under: that is, the obligation to uphold respect for their county abroad by maintaining personal standards of behaviour and fairness which darker-skinned native peoples could respect. The act of calling upon someone to remember his personal moral obligations in this way is expressed in Rudyard Kipling's poem The White Man's Burden. On the other hand, the racially neutral colour white has long been associated with pureness and virtue. A similar expression in the United States is "That's mighty white of you", meaning, "Thank you for being fair". Among African Americans, this phrase is said in response to being patronized or told what to think.

How to pronounce play the white man?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say play the white man in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of play the white man in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of play the white man in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

References

1. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Play_the_White_Man
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play_the_White_Man
3. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
4. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=play the white man