'play a joke on' definitions:

Definition of 'play a joke on'

(from WordNet)
verb
Subject to a playful hoax or joke [syn: hoax, pull someone's leg, play a joke on]
verb
Deceive somebody; "We tricked the teacher into thinking that class would be cancelled next week" [syn: flim-flam, play a joke on, play tricks, trick, fob, fox, pull a fast one on, play a trick on]