- Dictionary
play up(
pley
uhp
)A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
a. exagerar
Drake grabbed his arm, wincing, but everyone knew he was playing it up.Drake se agarró el brazo, haciendo un gesto de dolor, pero todos sabían que lo exageraba.
2. (colloquial) (to bother) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
a. dar guerra (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
The students played Mr. Rollins up during class today.Los alumnos le dieron guerra al Sr. Rollins durante la clase hoy.
b. dar la lata (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
My wrist plays me up if I use the computer too much.Me da la lata la muñeca si uso la computadora demasiado.
c. fastidiar
The children were playing me up, so I sent them out to play.Los niños me fastidiaban, así que los mandé fuera a jugar.
An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
3. (colloquial) (to be bothersome) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
a. dar guerra (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
My knee plays up in the mornings sometimes.Me da guerra la rodilla a veces por la mañana.
b. dar la lata (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
I hope Juanito and Maria didn't play up too much.Espero que Juanito y María no te hayan dado la lata demasiado.
c. fastidiar
My son tends to play up when he gets tired.Mi hijo tiene la tendencia de fastidiarme cuando se pone cansado.
4. (colloquial) (to not work properly) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
a. hacer de las suyas
The tractor has been playing up again; we ought to bring it to a mechanic.El tractor ha vuelto a hacer de las suyas; deberíamos llevarlo a un mecánico.
b. ir mal
Sometimes the TV plays up, and you have to smack it to get it to work.A veces la tele va mal, y le tienes que dar un golpe para que funcione.
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