play up

British  

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. 1. to support (another actor) in a performance

   2. to try to gain favour with by flattery

---

play up Idioms  

1. 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

Who does Clarke play up front - and is there any prospect that whoever it is might have more than crumbs to feed on?

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

Coach JJ Redick set the play up to miss it to the right side because that was supposed to be the side with just one defender.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

“We didn’t play up to par in the trenches,” Skipper said.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2025

"The incel line doesn't sum the play up at all," says Freeman.

From BBC • Oct. 27, 2025

The press had good reason to play up the event.

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow

Related Words

• point up