informal)
the boys really did play up : MISBEHAVE, be bad, be naughty, get up to mischief, be disobedient, cause trouble.
the boiler's playing up : MALFUNCTION, not work, be defective, be faulty; informal go on the blink, act up.
his leg was playing up : BE PAINFUL, hurt, ache, be sore, cause discomfort; informal kill someone, give someone gyp.
2192; headword