Playing with something in a light, non-serious way, or pretending to consider something without real commitment.
From the noun 'toy,' which originated in the 1500s with unclear etymology, possibly from Dutch or as imitative of a small object. The verb developed from playful object manipulation.
When we say someone is 'toying with' an idea, we're using a metaphor that treats abstract thoughts like physical objects you can play with—this kind of metaphor shows how humans understand abstract concepts by relating them to concrete physical experiences.
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