Amanda & Daisy: A Friend in Need?
Episode 3: Daisy is Angry!

Daisy: What?! I told you about this party weeks ago! What are you playing at?!



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Meaning: If you ask someone what they are playing at, it means you are surprised by or unhappy about their behaviour. Although you seem to be asking a question, you do not always expect an answer!

Grammar: Here, this phrasal verb is used in a question structure as an exclamation. It cannot be separated from its particle.

What is he playing at?
What is he playing at, spending so much money?

Example sentence: I don't know what they are playing at, losing all of those computer files.

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Synonyms: get up to, think of ________________________________________________________________