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play up

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: play up

1
v
move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent
2
v
ingratiate oneself to; often with insincere behavior
FULL DEFINITIONS OF: play up
1

v move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent

Synonyms:
foreground, highlight, spotlight
Antonyms:
background, downplay, play down
understate the importance or quality of
Type of:
bring out, set off
direct attention to, as if by means of contrast
2

v 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
Type of:
ingratiate
gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
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