SOFT-PEDAL


Meaning of SOFT-PEDAL in English

verb

to reduce the emphasis, importance, or effect of something (as an issue)

tried to soft-pedal military spending

Synonyms: de-emphasize, play (down)

Related Word: tone (down), tune (down); cushion, dampen, muffle, subdue; hush (up), silence, suppress; conceal, disguise

Contrasted words: emphasize, play (up); focus (on), spotlight

Merriam Webster. Collegiate thesaurus English vocabulary.      Английский энциклопедический словарь тезаурус.