Soft-pedal
vt. 降低...的调子, 对...不予张扬, 使...变得不显眼
📖 牛津释义
soft-pedal
v (-ll-; US -l-) [I, Tn]
(infml 口) make (an issue, etc) seem less serious or important; play (sth) down 减弱（问题等）的严重性或重要性; 使（某事物）大事化小
The government has been soft-pedalling (on) the question of teachers' pay. 政府一直低调处理教师的工资问题.
🧩 词语组成解析
soft
[sɔft]
adj. 软的，柔软的;温和的，柔和的;不含酒精的;轻松的;
n. 柔软之物，柔软的部分;
adv. 柔和地;温柔地;
🗣️ 情景例句
Dean Rafer called me today.
Rafer主任今天打电话给我。
Marvellous.
妙极了。
Meanwhile, my tongue was busy searching out the hole where the tooth had been.
与此同时，我的舌头正在忙着寻找刚拔掉的那颗牙的伤口。