soft pedals
Plays something down
Soft pedals are the leftmost pedals on a piano, which reduce volume and soften tone when depressed.
The mechanism shifts the hammers so they strike fewer strings or with less force.
The figurative verb soft-pedal means to downplay or de-emphasize something: The administration soft-pedaled the scandal.
Also spelled soft-pedal as a noun.
- mufflingReducing sound intensity
- quiet downBecome less noisy
- muted tonesColors desaturated toward gray
- euphemizeExpress harshly indirectly
- dampeningReducing or wetting slightly
lessens · attenuation · take the edge off · eases · piano · mitigate · downplay · minimize · diminishes · play down · brush aside · cushions · suppression · temper · upright piano · moderate · mollify · grand piano
soft pedalsemphasizes
Gives special importance to
highlights · accentuates · plays up · stresses · underscores
soft pedalsblurts out
Says impulsively, unfiltered
broadcasts · proclaims · announces · declares · trumpets
soft, pedal, softer, softest, softly, soften, softens, softened, softening