Pronunciation: /pleɪ ʌp tuː/
noun a performance or action intended to please or impress someone
A1 I like to play up to my little sister to make her laugh.
A2 The actor tried to play up to the director in hopes of getting a bigger role.
B1 She always plays up to her boss to get ahead in the company.
B2 The politician was accused of playing up to the wealthy donors for campaign contributions.
C1 The athlete was criticized for playing up to the media instead of focusing on their performance.
C2 The singer's attempts to play up to the critics fell flat and did not improve their reviews.
preposition to behave in a way that is intended to please or impress someone
A1 I always try to play up to my teacher to get good grades.
A2 He decided to play up to his boss in order to get a promotion.
B1 The actor knew he had to play up to the audience to receive a standing ovation.
B2 She was skilled at playing up to potential investors during business meetings.
C1 The politician was criticized for constantly playing up to special interest groups.
C2 The athlete was accused of playing up to the referees in order to gain favor during games.
formal The politician tried to play up to the wealthy donors in order to secure more campaign funding.
informal She always plays up to the boss to get ahead in her career.
slang He's constantly playing up to the popular kids at school to fit in.
figurative The actor knows how to play up to the audience to keep them engaged during the performance.
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