play something down
phrasal verb with play verb uk/pleɪ/ us/pleɪ/
对…作低调处理;淡化…的重要性（或糟糕程度）
to make something seem less important or less bad than it really is
Military spokespeople tried to play down the seriousness of the disaster. 军方发言人竭力淡化灾难的严重程度。
- More examples
- Ministers played down the prospect of a spring election.
- Although I'm excited, I'm playing down my promotion so that the others don't get jealous.
- It's probably wise to play down your connection with the Communist party.
- The documentary played down the break-up of his first marriage.
- A Pentagon spokesman was trying to play down the significance of the incident.