soft pedal (Meaning)

Wordnet

soft pedal (n)

a pedal on a piano that moves the action closer to the strings and so soften the sound

Wordnet

play down or obscure

The politician soft-pedaled his stance on the controversial policy to avoid alienating voters.
The doctor soft-pedaled the patient's diagnosis, hoping to alleviate their anxiety.
The employee soft-pedaled their concerns during the meeting, fearing they might damage their reputation.
The journalist soft-pedaled the sensitive information in their article to protect their source.
The teacher soft-pedaled the student's mistakes to encourage their growth and confidence.
The boss soft-pedaled the project's deadline to reduce stress on the team.
The therapist soft-pedaled the patient's emotions to create a safe and non-threatening environment.
The negotiator soft-pedaled their initial demands to make room for compromise.
The singer soft-pedaled their vocals in the ballad to convey the character's vulnerability.
The politician soft-pedaled their campaign promises to avoid making unrealistic commitments.

a pedal on a piano that moves the action closer to the strings and so soften the sound, play down or obscure

downplay, dismiss, minimize, denigrate, understate,de-emphasize, underplay, play down, trash-talk, run down

overdo, pad, overstate, exaggerate, pad, overstate, elaborate, elaborate,exaggerate, overdo

The politician soft-pedaled his stance on the controversial policy to avoid alienating voters.

The doctor soft-pedaled the patient's diagnosis, hoping to alleviate their anxiety.

The employee soft-pedaled their concerns during the meeting, fearing they might damage their reputation.

The journalist soft-pedaled the sensitive information in their article to protect their source.