Possum
noun
A small animal that looks like a big rat, mostly active at nights, and lives mainly in Australia and nearby islands.
The possum was running in our backyard last night
Often appears as...
- playing possum
- ringtail possum
noun
An animal in North America that is similar to and often referred to as a possum.
I saw a possum near the trash can in our backyard
Often appears as...
- playing possum
- opossum
verb
To pretend to be asleep or dead.
When I went to wake him up, he was possumming to avoid school
Often appears as...
- play possum
- possumming around
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial,Idiomatic
noun
A small animal that looks like a big rat, mostly active at nights, and lives mainly in Australia and nearby islands.
The possum was running in our backyard last night
Often appears as...
- playing possum
- ringtail possum
noun
An animal in North America that is similar to and often referred to as a possum.
I saw a possum near the trash can in our backyard
Often appears as...
- playing possum
- opossum
verb
To pretend to be asleep or dead.
When I went to wake him up, he was possumming to avoid school
Often appears as...
- play possum
- possumming around
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial,Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Animal Nickname
In Australia, 'possum' refers affectionately to the animal, often used in a friendly or familiar context.
My daughter wants to adopt a possum after seeing one at the wildlife park.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Symbol
'Possum' can symbolize Australia's unique wildlife; used in tourism and branding to evoke Australian nature.
We bought possum-themed souvenirs to remember our trip to Australia.
Pro Tip 3/3Endangerment Awareness
Sometimes 'possum' is used in discussions highlighting conservation issues about Australian wildlife.
The foundation's campaign focuses on saving the possum from habitat destruction.
Pro Tip 1/3Animal Nickname
In Australia, 'possum' refers affectionately to the animal, often used in a friendly or familiar context.
My daughter wants to adopt a possum after seeing one at the wildlife park.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Symbol
'Possum' can symbolize Australia's unique wildlife; used in tourism and branding to evoke Australian nature.
We bought possum-themed souvenirs to remember our trip to Australia.
Pro Tip 3/3Endangerment Awareness
Sometimes 'possum' is used in discussions highlighting conservation issues about Australian wildlife.
The foundation's campaign focuses on saving the possum from habitat destruction.
Pro Tip 1/3Animal Nickname
In Australia, 'possum' refers affectionately to the animal, often used in a friendly or familiar context.
My daughter wants to adopt a possum after seeing one at the wildlife park.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Symbol
'Possum' can symbolize Australia's unique wildlife; used in tourism and branding to evoke Australian nature.
We bought possum-themed souvenirs to remember our trip to Australia.
Pro Tip 3/3Endangerment Awareness
Sometimes 'possum' is used in discussions highlighting conservation issues about Australian wildlife.
The foundation's campaign focuses on saving the possum from habitat destruction.
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Video examples
The strange story of the...
There were billy possum postcards, billy possum pins, billy possum pitchers for your cream at coffee time. There were smaller billy possums on a stick that kids could wave around like flags. But even with all this marketing, the life of the billy possum turned out to be just pathetically brief.
Video examples
Animal Life in the...
pretty rare species right can you tell us more about some of the more rare ones that you suspect uh yeah what so one of the one of the species that i um i was really really excited about it's not uh there's it's called a bushy-tailed possum and um it's just you know like it's not like it's a
Video examples
The Next Generation's...
and we stumbled upon them in the forest and they saw us too this is the hot humid forest of southwestern nigeria it's a tropical jungle teeming with life there are these 50-foot trees stretching for sunlight and scaly pangolins sort of imagine a possum trying very
Video examples
Strange answers to the...
that he was mad in this new way he was a psychopath and his clinician said to me if you want to know more about Psychopaths he can go on a Psychopaths spotting course run by Robert hare who invented the psychopathy checklist so I did I went on a Psychopaths possum
Video examples
Two Headed Snake Attack...
it has a super bright dayglo tongue that contrasts with its dull colored magnificently camouflaged body come on could you tell the snake from the tree branch if you weren't looking for it it can play possum and lay in wait for prey
Video examples
Eric Topol: The wireless...
Because it not only helps you with quantifying your sleep, but also tells others you're awake. So, when my wife came in and she could tell you're awake. "Eric, I want to talk. I want to talk." And I'm trying to play possum.
Video examples
The surprising reasons...
With no chance of escape, you do what any courageous, self-respecting possum would curl into an immobile state called catatonia, stick out your tongue, drool, and ooze some foul-smelling liquid from your anal glands.
Video examples
Strange-headed Snakes PIPE...
it has a super bright dayglo tongue that contrasts with its dull colored magnificently camouflaged body come on could you tell the snake from the tree branch if you weren't looking for it it can play possum and
Video examples
Incredible Life in the...
so I fed up with possum help me here who say well you're a pioneer really of diving in the Red Sea well actually we start here 20 years ago
Video examples
Monitor Lizard Fights...
This particular tree has attracted the attention of a lace monitor, because it's the home of a female possum with babies in her nest.
Video examples
The strange story of the...
There were billy possum postcards, billy possum pins, billy possum pitchers for your cream at coffee time. There were smaller billy possums on a stick that kids could wave around like flags. But even with all this marketing, the life of the billy possum turned out to be just pathetically brief.
Video examples
Animal Life in the...
pretty rare species right can you tell us more about some of the more rare ones that you suspect uh yeah what so one of the one of the species that i um i was really really excited about it's not uh there's it's called a bushy-tailed possum and um it's just you know like it's not like it's a
Video examples
The Next Generation's...
and we stumbled upon them in the forest and they saw us too this is the hot humid forest of southwestern nigeria it's a tropical jungle teeming with life there are these 50-foot trees stretching for sunlight and scaly pangolins sort of imagine a possum trying very
Video examples
Strange answers to the...
that he was mad in this new way he was a psychopath and his clinician said to me if you want to know more about Psychopaths he can go on a Psychopaths spotting course run by Robert hare who invented the psychopathy checklist so I did I went on a Psychopaths possum
Video examples
Two Headed Snake Attack...
it has a super bright dayglo tongue that contrasts with its dull colored magnificently camouflaged body come on could you tell the snake from the tree branch if you weren't looking for it it can play possum and lay in wait for prey
Video examples
Eric Topol: The wireless...
Because it not only helps you with quantifying your sleep, but also tells others you're awake. So, when my wife came in and she could tell you're awake. "Eric, I want to talk. I want to talk." And I'm trying to play possum.
Video examples
The surprising reasons...
With no chance of escape, you do what any courageous, self-respecting possum would curl into an immobile state called catatonia, stick out your tongue, drool, and ooze some foul-smelling liquid from your anal glands.
Video examples
Strange-headed Snakes PIPE...
it has a super bright dayglo tongue that contrasts with its dull colored magnificently camouflaged body come on could you tell the snake from the tree branch if you weren't looking for it it can play possum and
Video examples
Incredible Life in the...
so I fed up with possum help me here who say well you're a pioneer really of diving in the Red Sea well actually we start here 20 years ago
Video examples
Monitor Lizard Fights...
This particular tree has attracted the attention of a lace monitor, because it's the home of a female possum with babies in her nest.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Daniel Negreanu
Canadian Celebrity
A common mistake made by amateurs is that they fail to take advantage of players who bluff excessively. Instead of playing possum and letting their aggressive opponents continue to bet, beginners raise too early with monster hands, allowing their opponents to fold.
Quote examples
Derrick Lewis
American Athlete
I've been in that situation three or four times before where I'm losing the fight - the fight seems almost over with - and I knew I had to finish him and stop playing possum as much.
Quote examples
Mem Fox
Australian Writer
I think that my favourite animal is a baby possum, or a joey. The face of a really little joey is so divine - so, so gorgeous.
Quote examples
Chris Pratt
American Actor
I've eaten weird things through the course of my life. I've eaten wild game, I've eaten possum - possum's no good.
Quote examples
S. Truett Cathy
American Businessman
Why did the chicken cross the road? To prove to the possum that it could be done.
Quote examples
Daniel Negreanu
Canadian Celebrity
A common mistake made by amateurs is that they fail to take advantage of players who bluff excessively. Instead of playing possum and letting their aggressive opponents continue to bet, beginners raise too early with monster hands, allowing their opponents to fold.
Quote examples
Derrick Lewis
American Athlete
I've been in that situation three or four times before where I'm losing the fight - the fight seems almost over with - and I knew I had to finish him and stop playing possum as much.
Quote examples
Mem Fox
Australian Writer
I think that my favourite animal is a baby possum, or a joey. The face of a really little joey is so divine - so, so gorgeous.
Quote examples
Chris Pratt
American Actor
I've eaten weird things through the course of my life. I've eaten wild game, I've eaten possum - possum's no good.
Quote examples
S. Truett Cathy
American Businessman
Why did the chicken cross the road? To prove to the possum that it could be done.
Example 1 of 5
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