play up Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. verb move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent
   foreground; spotlight; highlight.
   
   • The introduction highlighted the speaker's distinguished career in linguistics
2. verb ingratiate oneself to; often with insincere behavior
   cotton up; sidle up; cozy up; shine up; suck up.
   
   • She is playing up to the chairman

WordNet