View synonyms for play up to

play up to

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Curry favor with, flatter, as in There's no use playing up to the boss; it doesn't influence him . This expression originated about 1800 in the theater, where it meant “to support or assist another actor.” Within a couple of decades it was being used in other venues.

Related Words

appeal to
attract
captivate
charm
dare
fascinate
induce
intrigue
invite
motivate
persuade
seduce
stimulate
tantalize
woo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

play upon playwear

Browse