"Played off" is a phrase that typically means to use a situation to one's advantage or to manipulate a situation to achieve a desired outcome. There are many synonyms that can be used interchangeably with "played off," including terms like leverage, exploit, manipulate, use to advantage, work to one's advantage, or turn to one's advantage. Other synonyms for "played off" might include words like utilize, capitalize on, profit from, or take advantage of. Ultimately, the phrase "played off" can be used in a variety of contexts, and there are many different words that can capture the essence of what it means to use a situation to one's advantage.