play up

verb

1. tr to emphasize or highlight

   to play up one's best features

2. informal.
   to behave irritatingly (towards)
3. informal.
   intr (of a machine, car, etc) to function erratically

   the car is playing up again

4. informal.
   to hurt; give (one) pain or trouble

   my back's playing me up again

5. play up to
   1. to support (another actor) in a performance
   2. to try to gain favour with by flattery

Idioms and Phrases

Emphasize or publicize, as in In the press interview, the coach played up the importance of having a strong defense . [c. 1900] Also see play down ; play up to .

Example Sentences

The dress bizarrely burdened Hurley with a ready-made character to play up to, which she did without overt complaint.

From The Daily Beast

All the women in this video play up subtle sexiness between colored neon, film noir lighting, and sexy silhouettes.

From The Daily Beast

Certainly the Obama campaign tried to play up the age difference.

From The Daily Beast

And, like Fox, ABC seems to want to play up limited event-driven programming.

From The Daily Beast

As a result, media and Netizens are tempted to play up sexy angles.

From The Daily Beast

I was afraid you wouldn't like it, but you must try to understand that I was forced to play up to local sentiment.

From Project Gutenberg

He was clever enough at his work, but it was difficult to make him play games, and impossible to make him play up.

From Project Gutenberg

The notch in the guard must be long enough to give the bolt free play up and down.

From Project Gutenberg

"I suppose you think you're going to cut the youngster out as well with the other one, and play up with her," Barber added.

From Project Gutenberg

They embarked as natives in a native ship, and from the very outset they found it necessary to play up to their disguise.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• point up