playing up to (verb) allay: reduce something, usually a pain or a problem
Sinonime: admonish,
advise,
alarm, alert,
apprise,
dissuade, flag, forbode, give fair warning, give the high sign,
portend, premonish, pull one's coat, put a bug in one's ear, put on guard, put one wise, telegraph, tip, tip off, wave a red flag
Antonime: intensify,
provoke,
stir,
worsen