Definition of Play down

1. Verb. Understate the importance or quality of. "He played down his royal ancestry"

Exact synonyms: Background, Downplay
Specialized synonyms: Wave Off, Soft-pedal
Generic synonyms: Accent, Accentuate, Emphasise, Emphasize, Punctuate, Stress
Derivative terms: Background
Antonyms: Foreground, Play Up

Definition of Play down

1. Verb. (idiomatic) To make or attempt to make something seem less important, likely, or obvious. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Play Down

play a trick on
play along
play and playthings
play at
play back
play ball
play both ends against the middle
play both sides against the middle
play bow
play by ear
play catch-up
play dead
play down
play dumb
play false
play fast and loose
play fight
play fights
play for love
play for time
play games
play gooseberry
play group
play hard to get
play hardball
play hookey
play hooky

Literary usage of Play down

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Street Verse: 80 New Poems for Befuddled Investors by Michael Silverstein (2003)
"Down where great hopes are forever dangled Down where the dumb and the slow get mangled That's where day traders play. Down where every new stock craze is ..."

2. The Ballads and Songs of Ayrshire by James Paterson, Charles Gray (1847)
"... When I and my true love did often sport and play, Down among the beds of sweet roses, Where I and my true love did often sport and play, Down among the ..."

3. The Ballads and Songs of Ayrshire: Illustrated with Sketches, Historical by James Paterson, Charles Gray (1846)
"... When I and my true love did often sport and play, Down among the beds of sweet roses, Where I and my true lo've did often sport and play, Down among the ..."

4. Preaching and Sermon Construction by Paul Bertie Bull (1922)
""The tendency to play down to boys, to catch them by false pretenses, ... Our tendency to minimize and to misrepresent the Faith and to play down to lads ..."

5. Street Verse: 80 New Poems for Befuddled Investors by Michael Silverstein (2003)
"Down where great hopes are forever dangled Down where the dumb and the slow get mangled That's where day traders play. Down where every new stock craze is ..."

6. The Ballads and Songs of Ayrshire by James Paterson, Charles Gray (1847)
"... When I and my true love did often sport and play, Down among the beds of sweet roses, Where I and my true love did often sport and play, Down among the ..."

7. The Ballads and Songs of Ayrshire: Illustrated with Sketches, Historical by James Paterson, Charles Gray (1846)
"... When I and my true love did often sport and play, Down among the beds of sweet roses, Where I and my true lo've did often sport and play, Down among the ..."

8. Preaching and Sermon Construction by Paul Bertie Bull (1922)
""The tendency to play down to boys, to catch them by false pretenses, ... Our tendency to minimize and to misrepresent the Faith and to play down to lads ..."

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