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

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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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

play up

Many Jews, Ms. Horn explains, have felt pressured to make non-Jews comfortable about their presence “through self-deprecating and ultimately humiliating public displays in popular culture,” which often play up stereotypes in Jewish humor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

Leading Premier League clubs also compete for as many as four different trophies every season, meaning the best players are asked to play up to 60 games in a single campaign.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

With less natural light, Miranda-Martin wanted to play up the idea of dining-room-as-treehouse, reflecting the second-floor foliage visible from the small windows.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 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

“You could move to Charleston and play up there,” I suggested virtuously.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Related Words

• point up