play small
(in sport) to play very well:
Zidane always played big when it counted.
In that summer league Matt was really playing big.
to be given a lot of attention or importance:
The two reports played big on television.
The jobs factor plays big in local politics.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Succeeding, achieving and fulfilling
A game
accomplish
achieve
acquit
actualize
bear
get through
get to/reach first baseidiom
get your own wayidiom
go faridiom
go from strength to strengthidiom
kill
pan
rise
scale the heightsidiom
scrape through (something)
sew something up
slam dunk
smash itidiom
stand out

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Competing in sport
Being important and having importance