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The pop band Backstreet Boys has this song Quit Playing Games (With My Heart). I wonder what idiom can describe the phrase "play games with someone's heart"? Apparently the phrase "playing games with the heart" sounds perfectly good, but I wonder if there is any other phrase to convey the same meaning. Googling the phrase, it seems that there is no dictionary acknowledgement of it. The closest idiom could I get is play one's heart out, but it's about being enthusiastic and devoted when playing something (sports, game, instrument).

The idiom should describe the intention to gain someone's confidence, only to betray it.

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    “Playing games with the heart” is the idiom. – Lawrence Dec 30 '19 at 7:26
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    Is there some reason why the phrase "playing games with my heart" isn't adequate? Are you perhaps looking for an idiom that would apply to non-romantic relationships? – nnnnnn Dec 30 '19 at 7:26
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    Unless you’re reading the statement literally, it’s idiomatic and quite widely understood. – Lawrence Dec 30 '19 at 9:36
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    "Toying with my heart" would be a bit more idiomatic, but there are likely hundreds of ways to express this. – Hot Licks Dec 30 '19 at 13:32
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    Your title is ambiguous. "I play the game with heart" ... means I play the game enthusiastically. "You play games with my heart" means you toy with my romantic feelings for you. – GEdgar Dec 30 '19 at 14:38
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rock your world to pull the rug from under

-rock someone's world :
to be something that someone likes very much.

-pull the rug (out) from under (someone) :
To suddenly or unexpectedly remove or rescind support, help, or assistance from someone; to abruptly leave someone in a problematic or difficult situation.

Source: Merriam Webster The Free Dictionary

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  • How is this an answer to the question? Your answer needs some explanation - not merely a quote from a dictionary! – TrevorD Dec 31 '19 at 19:05

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