Soften
31soften — verb the compensation should soften the blow Syn: ease, alleviate, relieve, soothe, take the edge off, cushion, lessen, diminish, blunt, deaden …
32soften — [ˈsɒf(ə)n] verb 1) [I/T] to become softer, or to make something become softer Simmer gently until the apple has softened.[/ex] 2) [I/T] to become kinder and less severe, or to make someone or something do this When Jack spoke to the children his… …
33ˌsoften sb ˈup — phrasal verb to make someone more likely to do what you want by being nice to them His strategy was to soften them up with compliments.[/ex] …
34soften the blow — soften the blow/impact/effect/ phrase to make something unpleasant seem less severe He tried to soften the blow by telling her himself. Thesaurus: to reduce, or to remove the bad effects of somethingsynonym Main entry …
35soften someone up — soften (someone/something) up to weaken someone or something. Constant bombing was designed to soften the enemy up and weaken him. The ads were just a way to soften up public opinion to accept a big price increase …
36soften something up — soften (someone/something) up to weaken someone or something. Constant bombing was designed to soften the enemy up and weaken him. The ads were just a way to soften up public opinion to accept a big price increase …
37soften the impact — soften the blow/impact/effect/ phrase to make something unpleasant seem less severe He tried to soften the blow by telling her himself. Thesaurus: to reduce, or to remove the bad effects of somethingsynonym Main entry …
38soften the effect — soften the blow/impact/effect/ phrase to make something unpleasant seem less severe He tried to soften the blow by telling her himself. Thesaurus: to reduce, or to remove the bad effects of somethingsynonym Main entry …
39soften the blow — soften/cushion the blow ► to make the bad effects of something seem to be not as bad as they could have been: »If things go wrong there are no mechanisms to soften the blow. Main Entry: ↑blow …
40soften/cushion the blow — ► to make the bad effects of something seem to be not as bad as they could have been: »If things go wrong there are no mechanisms to soften the blow. Main Entry: ↑blow …
