dial down
Decrease the level
To dial down is to reduce intensity, volume, or degree—from the physical act of turning a dial counterward.
You might dial down the thermostat, dial down your expectations, or ask someone to dial down the drama.
The opposite is dial up.
Can you dial down the rhetoric a bit?
- relaxBecome less tense
- cool itCommand to calm down
- reduceMake smaller in degree
- lessenReduce in degree
- attenuateReduce in force
de-escalate · pump the brakes · decrease · minimize · moderate · scale back · back off · soft pedal · temper · mitigate · ease off · diminish · lower · downscale · quieten · defuse · calm · take a breather