play up to
• exploit, trade on, or make the most of something.
• "the actors clearly have fun playing up to their stereotypes"
Similar:
ingratiate oneself with,
seek the favour of,
try to get on the good side of,
curry favour with,
court,
fawn on/over,
make up to,
keep someone sweet,
toady to,
crawl to,
grovel to,
pander to,
be obsequious towards,
truckle to,
flatter,
soft-soap,
suck up to,
butter up,
be all over,
lick someone's boots,
brown-nose,
lick/kiss someone's arse,
lick/kiss someone's ass,
