What is the difference between footsie and games?

[Thelma.]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #705 "English Slang Idioms (447)", question 5

"I kicked those guys out of my store when they asked me to help launder money for the Mob. I don't play ......... with criminals," Arturo said to Geraldo.

(a) pansy
(b) games
(c) footsie
(d) money

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #705 "English Slang Idioms (447)", answer 5

"I kicked those guys out of my store when they asked me to help launder money for the Mob. I don't play footsie with criminals," Arturo said to Geraldo.

Correct answer: (c) footsie

Your answer was: incorrect
"I kicked those guys out of my store when they asked me to help launder money for the Mob. I don't play games with criminals," Arturo said to Geraldo.
_________________________

Afternoon,how are you?my question is why footsie and not the others like games.will you kindly explain to me the meaning of each.

Thelma

[MrPedantic]

Hello Thelma,

To "play footsie" with someone is to touch that person's feet with your own feet, usually under the table, in a manner that implies amorous interest. The phrase is used metaphorically to mean "to do business with someone in a mutually beneficial way".

To "play games" with a person is to act as if you take a particular shared activity seriously, when you don't take it seriously at all.

Thus "play footsie with someone" implies that both parties take the shared activity equally seriously, while "play games with someone" implies the contrary.

In this example, "play footsie" would mean that Arturo and the criminals would have taken the money-laundering equally seriously.

"Play games" however would mean that the criminals would have taken the money-laundering seriously, but Arturo would not have done.

The latter option is the more unlikely, since most people take the Mob quite seriously; so the answer is "play footsie".

Best wishes,

MrP