English Translation
Don’t get cute with me.
Why is there a COD pronoun? Is it some context we are missing since we only have this sentence? Looks like it is correc to say “Ne jouez pas fin avec moi”?
From what I gather, la jouez fine is a set phrase which originates from playing billards or boules. In both games sometimes you want to smash into the balls to break them up, at other times you need a more delicate, careful, or finer touch. In short, you need to be smart about what you’re doing. Hence, the sentence above could equally be translated as: Don’t get smart with me.
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It simply is a set idiomatic expression.
Similar to se la jouer :
Il se la joue expert en vin.
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He’s acting like he is a wine expert.
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English Translation
He plays it smart!
From Larousse:
I included the entire #5 definition because it shows fin(e) meaning subtle, clever, shrewd, etc. I’m not sure how common this actual usage is in French.
fin (f fine)
adjectif
5. [subtil - observation, description] subtle, clever
[- personne] perceptive, subtle
[- esprit] sharp, keen, shrewd
[- plaisanterie] witty
ce n’était pas très fin de ta part = it wasn’t very smart ou clever of you
elle n’est pas très fine = she’s not very bright
c’est fin ! (familier & ironique) = very clever!
ne joue pas au plus fin avec moi = don’t try to outwit ou to outsmart me
c’est une fine mouche = he’s a sharp customer
© Larousse 2014
Paris2020, they have (very close to) your sentence without the pronoun. Your sense about that was better than mine.
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Pretty common I’d say.
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