soft-pedalled

In contrast to China, Seoul - which has been keen to build ties with Japan - has soft-pedalled its concerns and on Tuesday it said it "respects" the IAEA's findings.

The shambolic defending, the sloppy goals, the disjointed passing, the soft-pedalled running.

The BJP eventually soft-pedalled on the legislation, but if the party returns to power it may renew its efforts to get the legislation through India's parliament.

Some conservative critics have complained that he soft-pedalled the church’s opposition to abortion and marriage equality.

He has soft-pedalled on ideology to emphasise practical support.