play up
1．emphasize强调
The coach played up the possibilities of success．教练竭力强调成功的可能性。
In the article he plays himself up and plays the others down．在文章中他抬高自己，贬低别人。
2．play well； do one's best赛好；加油
I expect them to play up this afternoon．我希望他们今天下午赛出水平来。
3．behave mischievously；cause trouble调皮；折磨；制造麻烦
The new teacher didn't know what to do when the class started playing up．班级开始乱哄哄时，新来的老师不知该怎么办。
The old wound has been playing up again lately．近来旧伤又在折磨人。
Those children do play their parents up．那些孩子确实给父母惹麻烦。
The engine began playing up．引擎开始出毛病了。
4．（a band） begin to play（乐队）开始演奏
The band played up the national anthem．乐队奏起了国歌。