playsomethingdown
phrasal verbwithplayverbuk/pleɪ/us/pleɪ/
to make somethingseemlessimportantor lessbadthan it really is:
Militaryspokespeopletriedtoplaydown theseriousnessof thedisaster.
- Ministersplayeddown theprospectof aspringelection.
- Although I'mexcited, I'mplayingdown mypromotionso that theothersdon't getjealous.
- It'sprobablywisetoplaydownyourconnectionwith theCommunistparty.
- Thedocumentaryplayeddown thebreak-upof his firstmarriage.
- APentagonspokesmanwastryingtoplaydown thesignificanceof theincident.
Exaggerating & playing down
- alarmist
- bloviate
- blowsomethingout of proportionidiom
- cartoonish
- catastrophize
- dramatization
- dramatize
- exaggerate
- minimize
- OTT
- over-egg
- overboard
- overdramatic
- overdramatize
- overembellish
- overplay
- overstatement
- pile
- proportion
- stretch the truthidiom