Usually means: Emphasize or exaggerate for effect.
Definitions Related words Phrases Mentions
We found 20 dictionaries that define the word play up:

General (13 matching dictionaries)
  1. play up: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
  2. play up: Merriam-Webster
  3. play up: Collins English Dictionary
  4. play up: Vocabulary.com
  5. play (sb) up, play up: Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
  6. play up: Wiktionary
  7. play up: Dictionary.com
  8. play up: Rhymezone
  9. play up: FreeDictionary.org
  10. play up: Mnemonic Dictionary
  11. play up: TheFreeDictionary.com

Business (2 matching dictionaries)
  1. play up: Legal dictionary
  2. play up: Financial dictionary

Computing (1 matching dictionary)
  1. play up: Encyclopedia

Medicine (1 matching dictionary)
  1. play up: Medical dictionary

Miscellaneous (1 matching dictionary)
  1. play up: Idioms

Slang (2 matching dictionaries)
  1. play up: Green’s Dictionary of Slang
  2. play up: Urban Dictionary

Definitions from Wiktionary (play up)

verb:  Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, up.
verb:  (British, idiomatic) To misbehave.
verb:  (transitive) To make or attempt to make something appear more important, likely, or obvious; to showcase or highlight.
verb:  (intransitive) To play (e.g. sport or music) more vigorously.
verb:  (transitive, slang) To be unfaithful to a lover; to cheat; used with on.

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