If you play up something, you emphasize it and try to make people believe that it is important.
The media played up the prospects for a settlement. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
His Japanese ancestry has been played up by some of his opponents. [VERBPARTICLE noun, beVERB-ed PARTICLE]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
2. phrasal verb [usually cont, no passive]
If something such as a machine or a part of your body is playing up or is playing you up, it is causing problems because it is not working properly.
[British, informal]
The engine had been playing up. [VERBPARTICLE]
It was his back playing him up. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
3. phrasal verb
When children play up, they are naughty and difficult to control.
[British, informal]
Patrick often plays up when he knows I'm in a hurry. [VERBPARTICLE]
More Synonyms of play up
See full dictionary entry for play
play up in British English
verb(adverb)
1. (transitive)
to emphasize or highlight
to play up one's best features
2. British informal
to behave irritatingly (towards)
3. (intransitive) British informal
(of a machine, car, etc) to function erratically
the car is playing up again
4. British informal
to hurt; give (one) pain or trouble
my back's playing me up again
5. play up to
play up in American English
US
Informal
to give prominence to
See full dictionary entry for play
Examples of 'play up' in a sentence
play up
Her back is playing up again.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Of course, top executives have an interest in playing up the importance of leadership.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It's great for the condition of my skin if it has been playing up in any way.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Chinese translation of 'play up'
play up
(inf)
vi
[machine, part of body]出毛病 (chū máobìng)
[child]调(調)皮捣(搗)乱(亂) (tiáopí dǎoluàn)
See play
Nearby words of
play up
play down
play off against
play on
play up
player
playful
playground
All related terms of 'play up'
play on
( sb's feelings, fears ) 利用 lìyòng
play off against
挑拨(撥)离(離)间(間) tiǎobō líjiàn
play down
减(減)低 jiǎndī
play back
( recording, message, video ) 回放 huífàng
play at
▶ to play at (doing/being) sth ( do half-heartedly ) 敷衍地做某事 fūyǎn de zuò mǒushì ; ( as game ) 扮成某事 bànchéng mǒushì ⇒ They played at (being) soldiers. → 他们扮成士兵。 Tāmen bànchéng shìbīng.
play around with
( idea, problem ) 摆(擺)弄 bǎinòng
play around
( be silly ) 胡闹(鬧) húnào
play along with
( person ) 同 ... 合作 tóng ... hézuò
play about with
= play around with
1 (phrasal verb)
Definition
to give (one) trouble or not be working properly
My bad back is playing up again.
Synonyms
hurt
His collar bone only hurt when he lifted his arm.
be painful
bother you
trouble you
be sore
pain you
give you trouble
give you gyp (British, New Zealand, slang)
2 (phrasal verb)
Definition
to give (one) trouble or not be working properly
The engine has started playing up.
Synonyms
malfunction
Radiation can cause microprocessors to malfunction.