playing up

Verb

play up (third-person singular simple present plays up, present participle playing up, simple past and past participle played up)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, up.
   • Our school team is playing up at the old recreation ground.
2. (UK, idiomatic) To misbehave.
   • Children who do not receive enough attention may begin to play up.

   Synonyms:

   act up

3. (transitive) To make or attempt to make something appear more important, likely, or obvious; to showcase or highlight.
   • For the audition, Nicole will play up her skill as a pianist by playing Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach.

   Synonyms:

   overemphasize, overstate, stretch, big up, cut it fat, exaggerate, hyperbolize, overcharge, overdo, three-sheet

   Antonyms:

   play down

4. (intransitive) To play (e.g. sport or music) more vigorously.
   • I can't hear the ukuleles at the back. Play up please!
5. (slang, transitive) To be unfaithful to a lover; to cheat; used with on.
   • […] the young fulla Jack'd brought along looked like he might suit in an emergency, and what the fuck, Jack'd already said she weren't interested. Serve Rog right if she played up on him.1997, Melissa Lucashenko, Steam Pigs, page 176