soft-pedal
动词 v.
英 /ˌsɒf(t)ˈpɛdl̩/
美 /ˈsɔf(t)ˌpɛdəl/|/ˈsɑf(t)-/
英文释义
动词 v.
- To reduce the volume of (music, a sound, etc.).
-
To reduce the force or impact of (something); to damp, to mute; especially, to minimize the less desirable aspects of (something); to play down, to tone down.
— But when the first female also-ran at a convention merits such hoopla and hosannas, then it is harder for viewers to understand why the Democrats seem intent on soft-pedaling their presumptive nominee's arguably more remarkable breakthrough.
- To attempt to persuade someone about (something) through understatement, so that the listener accepts the good points as obvious.
- Chiefly followed by on: to act in a less assertive or forceful manner.
词汇关系
衍生词
词源
From soft pedal (“leftmost foot-pedal on most pianos which, when pushed, dampens the strings and so softens the note played”, noun).
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数据来源: Wiktionary