Playing in the sandpit vs Playing on the sandpit

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. 'Playing in the sandpit' implies that the person is physically inside the sandpit, engaging in play activities. On the other hand, 'Playing on the sandpit' suggests that the person is playing on top of the sandpit, perhaps using it as a surface for other activities.

Last updated: April 01, 2024 • 1736 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used to describe engaging in play activities inside a sandpit.

"Playing in the sandpit"

This phrase is used to indicate that someone is physically inside a sandpit, playing with sand or toys.

Examples:

The children were happily playing in the sandpit.
I remember spending hours playing in the sandpit as a kid.

Show examples from the web [+]

He's playing in the sandpit.
Sunday morning some boys who were playing in a sandpit at Macchioni, behind the new building of the Council Houses, found few pieces of amphora, which once removed brought to light a human skeleton.
Playing ground with sandpit, swing, badminton, playing house and paying tower with slide
Stood with him in the sandpit.
My children love to play in the sandpit.
I'm not asking people to share nicely in the sandpit.
She's just... at the sandpit with Adoha.
For a long-lasting maintenance of the sandpit, please make it absorbed with a special nontoxic wood-maintaining product.
You climb into the sandpit with him, you stoop to his level.
Your children will love the sandpit, slide, swing, play house, ping pong and table football.
A few seconds later he is standing next to Mike, who only notices him when his shadow falls over the sandpit.
Although the cable runs by close to the sandpit, Mike doesn't pay it any attention; he is after all completely engrossed with his tin. Trampe holds the table briefly at head height.
I appreciate the offer, but I am due to go back to the sandpit, finish my tour.
As in the summer kids love to build sand castles and bake sand cakes in the sandpit, whizz down the slide, jump high up in the air on the trampoline and enjoy the great view from the climbing tower and watch over all their playmates.
Mrs. McKeltch took the whole class to the sandpit!
Apart from Mike in the sandpit, there is no one about, and you can't talk to Mike.
Guy Verhofstadt called it a 'deafening silence': the din of cherry picking, subsidiarity and proportionality, of 'emergency brakes' and 'core groups' from the sandpits of technocracy - most of these terms not even translatable from the English.
We had one against the park house and another one against the sandpit, and we made that like our Madison Square Garden.
There's music playing in the car - Hypothetically.
Not unless the Bears were playing in Baltimore.

Alternatives:

playing in the sandbox
playing in the sandpit area
playing in the sand area
playing with sand
enjoying the sandpit

This phrase is correct and can be used to describe playing on top of the sandpit, using it as a surface for other activities.

"Playing on the sandpit"

This phrase is used when someone is playing on the surface of the sandpit, rather than inside it.

Examples:

The kids were playing on the sandpit, using it as a stage for their performance.
We enjoyed playing on the sandpit, building sandcastles and digging holes.

Show examples from the web [+]

Sunday morning some boys who were playing in a sandpit at Macchioni, behind the new building of the Council Houses, found few pieces of amphora, which once removed brought to light a human skeleton.
Playing ground with sandpit, swing, badminton, playing house and paying tower with slide
Stood with him in the sandpit.
My children love to play in the sandpit.
I'm not asking people to share nicely in the sandpit.
She's just... at the sandpit with Adoha.
For a long-lasting maintenance of the sandpit, please make it absorbed with a special nontoxic wood-maintaining product.
You climb into the sandpit with him, you stoop to his level.
Your children will love the sandpit, slide, swing, play house, ping pong and table football.
A few seconds later he is standing next to Mike, who only notices him when his shadow falls over the sandpit.
Although the cable runs by close to the sandpit, Mike doesn't pay it any attention; he is after all completely engrossed with his tin. Trampe holds the table briefly at head height.
I appreciate the offer, but I am due to go back to the sandpit, finish my tour.
As in the summer kids love to build sand castles and bake sand cakes in the sandpit, whizz down the slide, jump high up in the air on the trampoline and enjoy the great view from the climbing tower and watch over all their playmates.
Mrs. McKeltch took the whole class to the sandpit!
Apart from Mike in the sandpit, there is no one about, and you can't talk to Mike.
Guy Verhofstadt called it a 'deafening silence': the din of cherry picking, subsidiarity and proportionality, of 'emergency brakes' and 'core groups' from the sandpits of technocracy - most of these terms not even translatable from the English.
We had one against the park house and another one against the sandpit, and we made that like our Madison Square Garden.
Presumptuous child playing on my ship.
Crazy people playing on it all the time.
Malcolm X was playing on cable.

Alternatives:

playing on the sand
playing on the sand area
playing around the sandpit
playing near the sandpit
playing with the sandpit

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Playing in the sandpit vs Playing on the sandpit