play up meaning and definition

PLAY UP verb

Definition of play up (verb)

1. move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent
   • "The introduction highlighted the speaker's distinguished career in linguistics"
   • synonyms: foreground, highlight, spotlight
   • antonym: background
2. ingratiate oneself to; often with insincere behavior
   • "She is playing up to the chairman"
   • synonyms: cotton up, cozy up, shine up, sidle up, suck up