Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

play up

(CHILD) UK phrasal verb with play
 
 
/pleɪ/ verb

Definition

When children play up, they behave badly: The boys have been playing up at school again.Bad and wrong behaviourDisobedientObeying and breaking the lawObedient and compliant
(Definition of play up (CHILD) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“play up” in other dictionaries

Word of the Day

throw caution to the wind/winds

to do something without worrying about the risk or negative results

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More