The story
Synthetic form of the phrase play down. By surface analysis, down- + play.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
downplay
Today it means: To de-emphasize; to present or portray as less important or consequential. Full definition →
Today it means: To de-emphasize; to present or portray as less important or consequential. Full definition →
Synthetic form of the phrase play down. By surface analysis, down- + play.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.