1) Act with great restraint 2) Deal with subtly 3) Definitely not sugar coat 4) Hold back on the stage 5) Opposite of emote 6) Play 7) Play a card lower than 8) Playact 9) Roleplay 10) To underact a part 11) To understate or de-emphasize 12) Underact 1) Underact 
• (n.) The act of underplaying. • (v. i.) To play in a subordinate, or in an inferior manner; to underact a part. • (v. i.) To play a low card when holding a high one, in the hope of a future advantage.
[v] - play a card lower than (a held high card)
to act (a part) sketchily. · to act subtly and restrainedly. · to understate or de-emphasize; downplay: The ambassador underplayed his role in the peace negotiations.