Is 'play up' formal or informal?

It is generally informal. In formal writing, synonyms like 'emphasize', 'highlight', or 'accentuate' are preferred.

Can 'play up' be used without an object?

Yes, but only in the British sense meaning 'to malfunction' or 'to misbehave'. (e.g., 'The car is playing up.') The 'emphasize' sense requires an object.

What's the American equivalent for 'My back is playing up'?

An American would likely say 'My back is acting up' or 'My back is bothering me.'

What is the opposite phrasal verb of 'play up' (in the sense of emphasize)?

The direct opposite is 'play down', meaning to make something seem less important.

play up

UK/ˌpleɪ ˈʌp/US/ˌpleɪ ˈʌp/

Informal, conversational

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

To emphasize, exaggerate, or make something seem more important than it is; to cause trouble or malfunction.

In British English, it often means to cause pain or to misbehave. In sports, it can mean to give maximum effort.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

This phrasal verb is primarily transitive. The object can be a thing (an issue, a feature) or a person (a child, a player). The sense of malfunctioning is often used for machines or body parts.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The sense of 'to cause pain/discomfort' or 'to misbehave' (e.g., 'My back is playing up', 'The children are playing up') is almost exclusively British. Americans might say 'acting up' instead. The sense of 'to emphasize' is shared.

Connotations

In British English, 'play up' can carry a mildly exasperated, colloquial tone when referring to misbehavior or pain. In American English, it is more neutral, focusing on promotion or exaggeration.

Frequency

More frequent and with broader meaning in British English. In American English, it is less common and its usage is more specific to media or promotional contexts.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

play up the angleplay up the painplay up the importanceplay up an injuryplay up its features

medium

play up to the crowdplay up during the meetingmy knee is playing upthe car is playing up

weak

play up a bitplay up againalways playing upstarted to play up

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[Subject] + play up + [Object (thing/issue)][Subject (machine/body part)] + be playing up

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

exaggerateoverstatemagnifyhype up

Neutral

emphasizehighlightstress

Weak

mentionnotepoint out

Vocabulary

Antonyms

play downdownplayminimizeunderstate

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“Play up and play the game! (British, archaic school motto)”
“Play up to someone (to flatter or behave in a way to gain favor)”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

"The marketing team played up the product's eco-friendly credentials in the new campaign."

Academic

"The author deliberately plays up the economic factors while downplaying the social ones."

Everyday

"I can't come for a walk; my ankle is playing up again." (UK)

Technical

Not typically used in formal technical writing; more common in informal technical talk about faulty equipment: "The server's been playing up all morning."

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

The newspapers are playing up the scandal.
My old laptop has started to play up.
He's always playing up in class.

American English

The ad plays up the car's safety features.
Politicians often play up their humble beginnings.
She accused him of playing up his illness for sympathy.

Examples

By CEFR Level

The company played up the low price of their new phone.
The goalkeeper played up his injury to waste time.
My stomach is playing up after that spicy food. (UK)

Throughout the interview, she played up her experience in project management.
The documentary played up the dramatic conflict between the two leaders.
The software plays up every time I try to save the file. (UK)

Critics argue that the media consistently plays up the risks while playing down the benefits of the new technology.
He has a tendency to play up his aristocratic connections in certain social circles.
The engine played up intermittently throughout the race, costing them the lead.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine an actor on a stage who is told to 'PLAY UP' their role—to be louder and more dramatic. This helps remember the 'exaggerate' meaning. For the 'malfunction' meaning, think of a child 'playing up' (misbehaving) like a faulty machine.

Conceptual Metaphor

IMPORTANCE IS VOLUME/BRIGHTNESS (to play something up is to turn up its 'volume' in people's awareness). PROBLEMS ARE MISBEHAVING CHILDREN (a bad knee 'plays up' like a naughty child).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Do not translate literally as "играть вверх". For "emphasize", use "подчеркивать", "выпячивать". For "malfunction/misbehave" (UK), use "барахлить", "капризничать", "доставлять проблемы".

Common Mistakes

Using it intransitively for the 'emphasize' meaning (Wrong: 'He played up about his achievements.' Correct: 'He played up his achievements.'). Confusing 'play up' (emphasize) with 'show off' (to display boastfully).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The opposition party will undoubtedly the government's mistakes in the upcoming debate.

Multiple Choice

In which of these sentences is 'play up' used in a characteristically British sense?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: It is generally informal. In formal writing, synonyms like 'emphasize', 'highlight', or 'accentuate' are preferred.
: Yes, but only in the British sense meaning 'to malfunction' or 'to misbehave'. (e.g., 'The car is playing up.') The 'emphasize' sense requires an object.
: An American would likely say 'My back is acting up' or 'My back is bothering me.'
: The direct opposite is 'play down', meaning to make something seem less important.

Explore

Related Words

point up