Have you ever played the field, or dreamed of so doing but not being a Casanova have shied away from it?
Either way we all know someone who has allegedly at least played the field, but whilst wondering if their legendary conquests actually have foundation in truth, have you spared a thought for what the origin of this phrase is?
Thought not, but luckily for you, here is the answer to the question you never asked.
This comes from horse racing, and people can reduce their risk of losing by betting on more than one horse (though also reducing the likelihood of winning a lot too).
Now, if they bet on all the horses then they were literally playing the field... displaying an interest in lots of different horses.
And so in matters of the heart it can be seen that those who are interested in many partners are also, in a sense, playing the field - and hence the origin of that phrase.
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