state of play

Meaning

1. 1phraseidiomBritish

   the current situation or condition of something, especially after some time or changes

   Grammar: Used with 'the': the state of play. It is often followed by 'on' or 'in' to show the topic.

   Patterns

   • the state of play on something
   • the state of play in something
   • the current state of play

   Can you give me the state of play on the new project?

   The state of play in the negotiations is still unclear.

   After the meeting, we discussed the state of play regarding the budget.

Common combinations

the current state of play

What is the current state of play in the election campaign?

give someone the state of play

Please give me the state of play before I join the call.

the state of play on something

She asked about the state of play on the trade deal.

the state of play regarding something

The report describes the state of play regarding climate policy.

Synonyms and how they differ

situation

More general and neutral; 'state of play' suggests a changing situation that people are watching.

status

Often more official or technical; it may refer to a stage rather than a full picture.

position

Can mean a place or an opinion; less commonly used for a whole situation.

Commonly confused: state of play or state of the art?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “state of play”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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