See play something ↔ down for more
play down
play something ↔ down phrasal verb (see also play)
to try to make something seem less important or less likely than it really is:
Management has been playing down the possibility of job losses.
play down the importance/seriousness/significance of something
The White House spokeswoman sought to play down the significance of the event.
play something ↔ down phrasal verb (see also play)
to try to make something seem less important or less likely than it really is:
play down the importance/seriousness/significance of something