play down to someone—deliberately talk to or behave towards smb. so that the person does not feel inferior:
- Joe Mystic does not play down to his audience. He plays to and has fun with his audience.
play up to someone—
1. flatter a person (in order to win favor for oneself ):
- Are you the employee who plays up to your boss day after day?
2. act in a helpful or cooperative manner towards a person:
- His mother did social small talk without daring to stop, and Wilkie played up to her.
3. act in a theatrical performance so as to support or assist another actor:
- Amberg started with a stock company of very indifferent merit. They could not play up to the stars whom he occasionally invited.
Note:
a) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase play someone up—
1. make smb. seem to be more important:
- The director tried to play up Ann, but she was not really a star.
2. annoy or irritate a person:
- They are trying to play me up. They believe that I will lose control.
3. (of one’s arm, stomach, etc.) give trouble to a person:
- His left elbow started playing him up and he was ordered to rest.
b) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase make a play for someone—attempt to attract the romantic or other interest of a person:
- You’re making a play for Joe and are waiting for him to take a personal interest in you.