soft-pedal

And when the AHA is reintroduced in parliament, as it inevitably will be, he can soft-pedal.

It would do nothing about climate change and would embrace but soft-pedal and rebrand social conservatism.

Even when the crowd turned loud and nasty on certain foreign-policy points, Paul refused to soft-pedal his anti-interventionism.

She muffled the notes with the soft pedal and broke off frequently.

"Do them good," her friend said viciously, but with the soft pedal down for once.

Grandma—she'd put down her foot—soft pedal—she's done that all my life.

If I thought it would please you I'd cut out the brass band effects and put some soft pedal polish on my manners.

On Dec. 20,1913, we find the "Outlook" "putting the soft pedal" on the public indignation.