Phrasal verb №30

play down

/pleɪ daʊn/

Meaning

To make something seem less important or serious than it really is

Example

He tried to play down his injury so no one would worry.

He tried to play down his injury so no one would worry.

Examples with the phrasal verb play down

He tried to play down the problem so people wouldn’t worry.

He tried to play down the problem so people wouldn’t worry.

She tried to play down her success so others wouldn’t be jealous.

She tried to play down her success so others wouldn’t be jealous.

The government tried to play down the risk to avoid panic.

The government tried to play down the risk to avoid panic.