play havoc

play havoc (third-person singular simple present plays havoc, present participle playing havoc, simple past and past participle played havoc)

1. Synonym of wreak havoc
   • 1995, Andreu Mas-Colell, Michael D. Whinston, and Jerry R. Green, Microeconomic Theory, Oxford University Press, page 111:

     If so, the individual wealth effects [which, except for the condition that ${\displaystyle p\cdot D_{w_{i}}x(p,\alpha _{i}w)=1}$, are essentially unrestricted] can play havoc with the well-behaved but possibly small individual substitution effects.