play up to

1. Curry favor with, flatter, as in There's no use playing up to the boss; it doesn't influence him. This expression originated about 1800 in the theater, where it meant “to support or assist another actor.” Within a couple of decades it was being used in other venues.

Example Sentences

They are aware they could play up to 65 games in all competitions this season, after winning the Club World Cup this summer.

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

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This season there is a record seven international games across five countries and under the NFL's current Collective Bargaining Agreement, the league can play up to 10 per year.

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The Rams made no changes in the group from 2024, and they are confident that the late-season addition Forbes will play up to his potential as a former first-round draft pick.

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Inspired by notorious occultist Aleister Crowley, this track from 1980's Blizzard of Ozz allowed Osbourne to play up to his mock-satanic image.

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Related Words

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• attract 
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• charm 
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• fascinate 
• induce 
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• invite 
• motivate 
• persuade 
• seduce 
• stimulate 
• tantalize 
• woo