play up
phrasal verb·2 senses·particle up
Meanings
Cause problems by misbehaving or malfunctioning
Why “up”? Something normal is disturbed. Feelings, systems, machines, or behavior become noisy, troubled, or out of control.
“My back is playing up again.”
“The children played up during the long journey.”
Act in a way that pleases someone or a group
Why “up”? You try to please someone, so they will like you, approve of you, or help you.
“The singer played up to the crowd.”
“The candidate played up to local voters.”
Don't confuse with
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“My back is playing up again.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
play on
A contrast learners often mix up
Take advantage of someone's weakness or fear
play out
A contrast learners often mix up
Develop or unfold over time
act up
Same up pattern: trouble
Behave badly or stop working properly
blow up
Same up pattern: trouble
Explode or be destroyed by an explosion; Inflate something by filling it with air; Suddenly become very angry; Enlarge a photograph or image; (of a storm or argument) develop quickly into something serious
butter up
Same up pattern: pleasing
Flatter someone so they will help you
cosy up
Same up pattern: pleasing
Try to become friendly with someone for your own benefit
cut up
Same up pattern: trouble
Cut something into smaller pieces; Make someone deeply upset or distressed; Behave in a wild or noisy way to attract attention; Overtake another driver suddenly and dangerously
dig up
Same up pattern: trouble
Remove something from the ground by digging; Discover information that was hidden or forgotten; Damage a surface by tearing into it; Mention or revive something embarrassing from the past
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