There is a claim that the phrase was first used in print in 1822 when referring to a political campaign. The origin refers to Possums who feign death in order to confuse predators
Playing Possum was created in 1975-04.
The latin term "Una We Possum", means "Together We Can"!!!! Una We Possum = Together We Can
Playing Possum - 1921 was released on: USA: 23 November 1921
The cast of Playing Possum - 1921 includes: Bartine Burkett Harry Sweet
Where did the term derby originate?
The saying "playing possum" comes from the tendency of the American opossum (which is not a true possum) to fall into a deathlike stupor when threatened.An animal that "plays possum" actually goes into a state of physiological suspension whereupon it appears to be quite dead. This is a defence mechanism to avoid being attacked by a predator, and is quite involuntary.The term should actually be "playing opossum" as this behaviour is shown by North American opossums, not true possums of the Oceania region.
This expression's meaning may be guessed from the words in it, so it is not an idiom. To play possum is to deceive an attacker by pretending to be dead or vanquished, as the possum proverbially does.
One on One - 2001 Playing Possum 1-7 was released on: USA: 15 October 2001
The saying "playing possum" comes from the tendency of the American opossum (which is not a true possum) to fall into a deathlike stupor when threatened.An animal that "plays possum" actually goes into a state of physiological suspension whereupon it appears to be quite dead. This is a defence mechanism to avoid being attacked by a predator, and is quite involuntary.The term should actually be "playing opossum" as this behaviour is shown by North American opossums, not true possums of the Oceania region.
The term Pogrom did not originate during the Holocaust.
The phrase "Playing 'Possum" comes from the opossum's way of protecting themselves. Playing possum means to play dead. A 'possum will lay still in hopes an animal will not attack it since it's dead (many animals won't eat prey unless they catch it alive). While playing dead, a possum will secrete really bad smelling fluid from it's anal glands.
The cast of Playing Possum - 1998 includes: Mark Clare Clint Sharplin Rajeev Varma as Red Man Tamsin Worts as Blue Woman