play up to

To act very nicely toward someone powerful or important so they will like you and give you something.

"He always plays up to the director, laughing at all his jokes."

Hear it in context

how to ACTUALLY be yourself (when you've forgotten who that is)

Tam Kaur · 14:58

to play up to somebody else's

Hour 2: Kevin Clark, This is Football

ESPN College Football · 26:46

if the quarterbacks don't play up to par,

how to ACTUALLY be yourself (when you've forgotten who that is)

Tam Kaur · 14:58

to play up to somebody else's preferences really determines whether

ENGLAND VS FRANCE: ELEVEN ALL STARS [OFFICIAL STREAM]

Sidemen · 8:51

You got a few people that love to play up to it.

‘ABOMINATION!’ Will Arsenal win the Premier League after Man City slip in title race? 👀 | ESPN FC

ESPN UK · 12:08

Cuz he knows that they didn't play up to the standards

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