dialled back
Reduced the intensity
Dialled back (also dialed back) means reduced in intensity, scale, or forcefulness.
Someone might dial back their criticism after seeing its effect, or a company dials back production when demand drops.
The image is of turning a dial to lower a setting: After the backlash, the senator dialled back her rhetoric.
The opposite is dial up.
- adjustedChanged to improve fit
- toned downMade less extreme
- slowed downReduced velocity
- regulatedMade to follow rules
- scaled downReduced proportionally in size
recalibrated · reined in · unwound · wound down · softened · relaxed · tempered · taken down a notch · subdued · cooled off · decelerated · restricted · diminished · curtailed · modified · lessened · turned down · suppressed
dialled backescalated
Increased in severity
ramped up · intensified · cranked up · heightened · stepped up
dialled backplayed up
Emphasized or exaggerated
highlighted · emphasized · spotlighted · foregrounded · trumpeted
dialled backdoubled down
Strengthened a risky position
leaned in · went all in · pushed forward · pressed on · dug in
dial, dialled, dialing, dials, dialer, dialers, back, backs, backed