play up to
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To try to gain favour with by flattery.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “play up to” mean?
To try to gain favour with by flattery.
Is “play up to” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.