UNDERPLAY


Meaning of UNDERPLAY in English

I. | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ verb

Etymology: under (I) + play

transitive verb

1. : to play a card lower than (a held high card)

underplayed his ace

2. : to act or present (as a role or a scene) with restraint or subdued force : refrain from emphasizing or exaggerating : play down

underplay the comic elements of an opera

continued briskly underplaying the drama of his news — Louis Auchincloss

intransitive verb

: to play a role or scene with restraint or subdued force

II. ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun

1. : an act or instance of underplaying

2. : hidden or underlying action

a subtle underplay of antagonism beneath the polite conversation

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.