playdown

or play-down

[ pley-doun ]
/ ˈpleɪˌdaʊn /

noun Chiefly Canadian.

a play-off.

Origin of playdown

First recorded in 1935–40; play + down1

Definition for play down (2 of 2)

Origin of play

before 900; (noun) Middle English pleye, Old English plega; (v.) Middle English pleyen, Old English pleg(i)an (cognate with Middle Dutch pleien to leap for joy, dance, rejoice, be glad)

SYNONYMS FOR play

2 show.
3 diversion, pastime. Play, game, sport refer to forms of diverting activity. Play is the general word for any such form of activity, often undirected, spontaneous, or random: Childhood should be a time for play. Game refers to a recreational contest, mental or physical, usually governed by set rules: a game of chess. Besides referring to an individual contest, game may refer to a pastime as a whole: Golf is a good game. If, however, the pastime is one (usually an outdoor one) depending chiefly on physical strength, though not necessarily a contest, the word sport is applied: Football is a vigorous sport.
18, 19 liberty.
23 enact.
25 personate, impersonate.
30 use.
32 bet.
33 back.
45 sport, frolic, romp, revel.
47 dally.

ANTONYMS FOR play

3, 45 work.

OTHER WORDS FROM play

British Dictionary definitions for play down (1 of 2)

play down

verb

(tr, adverb) to make little or light of; minimize the importance of

British Dictionary definitions for play down (2 of 2)

play
/ (pleɪ) /

verb

noun

Derived forms of play

playability, noun playable, adjective

Word Origin for play

Old English plega (n), plegan (vb); related to Middle Dutch pleyen

Idioms and Phrases with play down (1 of 2)

play down

1

Make little of, minimize the importance of, as in A skillful salesman plays down the drawbacks of the product and emphasizes its good features. [First half of 1900s]

2

play down to. Lower one's standards to meet the demands of someone, as in Some stand-up comics deliberately play down to the vulgar taste of their audiences. [Late 1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with play down (2 of 2)

play