soft-pedals

Plays something down

Soft-pedals is the third-person singular of soft-pedal, meaning to downplay or minimize something's importance or severity: The administration soft-pedals the environmental impact of the policy.

The term comes from the piano's soft pedal, which mutes the sound.

To soft-pedal is to make something seem less significant than it is.

downplaying

minimizes

Reduces to smallest extent

understatesPresents as less important
de-emphasizesReduces focus on
plays downMinimizes perceived importance

glosses over · tones down · mutes · dampens · diminishes · waters down · whitewashes · sugarcoats · tempers · moderates

musical

damper

Device reducing vibration or flow

sustainKeep something going continuously
pianoKeyed percussion instrument
mutedMade quieter or softer

dynamics · quieting · subdued · pianissimo · technique · touch · expression · keyboard · legato · tone control

Categories

verbsjump, be, speak, wait, do

Opposites

emphasis and attention

soft-pedalsemphasizes

Gives special importance to

highlights · accentuates · stresses · underscores · spotlights

honesty and directness

soft-pedalsconfronts

Addresses a problem directly

calls out · exposes · brings to light · airs · lays bare

Family

soft, softer, softest, softly, softness, soften, softens, softened, softening

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G