1 B2 idiomatic informal
To flatter or behave in an excessively pleasing way toward someone in order to gain their favor.
"He always plays up to the director, laughing at all his jokes."
inseparable
play up to
B2 informal inseparable transitive
To flatter or behave in an ingratiating way toward someone, especially to gain their approval or favor.
In plain English
To act very nicely toward someone powerful or important so they will like you and give you something.
What does "play up to" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To adjust one's performance or behavior to match what a particular audience wants or expects.
"The talk-show host clearly plays up to the studio audience, going for big laughs."
inseparable
Usage tip
Often implies some degree of insincerity. Common in workplace and social contexts. Similar in tone to 'butter up' but 'play up to' also includes adjusting one's behavior to match someone's expectations.
Words that pair with "play up to"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
boss teacher audience cameras gallery critics
How to conjugate "play up to"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
play up to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
plays up to
he/she/it
Past simple
played up to
yesterday
Past participle
played up to
have + pp
-ing form
playing up to
continuous
Hear "play up to" in the wild
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Keep exploring
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