underplay

/'ʌndə'plei/

Thân thiện

The actor chose to underplay the dramatic scene.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To perform a role with deliberate restraint or subtlety: To act in a play, film, or other dramatic work in a way that is intentionally subdued, less forceful, or less emphasized than might be expected.
   • To play a card lower in rank than a higher card one holds (in card games): To deliberately choose not to play a high-value card when one is able to do so.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (Acting with restraint):

  • The actor chose to underplay the villain, making him seem more chillingly ordinary.
  • A good director knows when to tell an actor to underplay a dramatic scene for greater effect.

• Verb (Card games):

  • He decided to underplay his ace, hoping to win more tricks later in the hand.
  • A common strategy is to underplay your high cards to mislead your opponents.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "To underplay one's hand": This idiom extends from the card-playing meaning to mean to deliberately make one's abilities, knowledge, or position seem less strong or important than it really is, often as a strategic choice.
  • In the negotiations, she underplayed her hand, not revealing how much she was willing to pay until the last moment.

Variants and Related Words

• Understated (adj): Presented or performed in a subtle, restrained, and effective way.
  • Her understated performance was more powerful than any dramatic outburst.

Synonyms

• Downplay: To make something seem less important than it is.
• De-emphasize: To reduce the importance or emphasis given to something.
• Play down: To minimize the significance of something.

Antonyms

• Overplay: To exaggerate or overemphasize a role or action.
• Overact: To act in an exaggerated or unnatural manner.
• Emphasize: To give special importance or prominence to something.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Underplay the significance/importance of": To treat something as less significant than it truly is.
  • The report underplays the importance of early childhood education.
• "Underplay one's role": To perform a role in a restrained manner; or, figuratively, to minimize one's own contribution to something.
  • He always underplays his role in the project's success.

Học thuật

Verb

1. play a card lower than (a held high card)
2. act (a role) with great restraint

Từ đồng nghĩa

• underact