From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishplay tricks (on you)play tricks (on you)if your mind, memory, sight etc plays tricks on you, you feel confused and not sure about what is happening It happened a long time ago, and my memory might be playing tricks on me. → play
Examples from the Corpus
play tricks (on you)• He had always played tricks on her.• Her brain had to be playing tricks on her.• Jack felt edgy but convinced himself that his nerves were playing tricks on him.• Somewhat perturbed, Ted flung the door open still believing that the platelayers were playing tricks on him.• Yes, fate was playing tricks on me.• They delight in playing tricks on mortals, though they will cease to give trouble if politely requested to do so.• It allowed me to detect instances when time played tricks on the memory of some of the respondents.• He knew, too, that his head had been aching and that his mind was capable of playing tricks upon him. 