強調する
解説 Definition
ある事柄を実際以上に大きく見せたり、重要性を誇張して伝えること。
To play up something means to make it seem more important, noticeable, or impressive than it might really be. It is often used in news, advertising, or discussion when someone emphasizes one point strongly. The phrase can sometimes suggest exaggeration.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
まず対で覚えると残りやすい語です。downplay が「小さく見せる」なら、play up はその逆で「大きく見せる・強調する」。play はここでは「軽く遊ぶ」より、話や印象を前に出して目立たせる感覚で捉えるとよいです。play up a problem, play up his achievements のように、問題や実績を実際以上に目立たせる場面でよく使います。単なる emphasize より、少し“盛って見せる”含みがある点も記憶のフックになります。
Remember it with its opposite: if "downplay" means make something seem smaller, "play up" means make it seem bigger. This makes the phrase easy to store as a pair. It often appears with things people want others to notice, like "play up a problem" or "play up his achievements."
例文
The media played up the rivalry between the two candidates.
メディアは二人の候補者間の対立を強調した。
The company played up the benefits of the product while ignoring its flaws.
会社は製品の欠点を無視しながら利点を強調した。
He played up his achievements on his resume to impress employers.
彼は雇用主に好印象を与えるために、履歴書で自分の実績を強調した。
play up の類義語・関連語
play up の語源・成り立ち Etymology
play up の play は古英語 plegan「活発に動く・遊ぶ」、up も古英語由来。もとは「勢いよく演奏する」ほどの感覚から、「前面に押し上げる」→「強調する」へ発展した。関連語は play, downplay。長所を上に持ち上げて見せる感じ。
`Play` comes from Old English `plegan`, meaning to move actively, exercise, or play, and `up` is also from Old English. The phrase first carried the sense of performing with energy or bringing something forward. From that image, it developed the idea of giving something extra attention or emphasis, as in the contrast with `downplay`.
同じレベルの英単語をもっと
英検1級の一覧へ →外部辞書で調べる
この単語を英単語クイズで覚えよう