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View synonyms for smooth over

smooth over

verb

  1. tr to ease or gloss over

    to smooth over a situation

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Idioms and Phrases

Rid of obstructions or difficulties, as in We tried to smooth things over between the families before the wedding but did not succeed . [Late 1600s]
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Example Sentences

He has spoken about how he would listen to her to smooth over the rough days, or heighten his joy.

At times, progressives go to great lengths to smooth over the differences between them and the party establishment.

The opposition of these groups marks a new obstacle in efforts to smooth over the partisan divide on Capitol Hill.

Plus, A.L. Bardach on whether Arnold's lying to smooth over his past.

Despondent over the turn of events, Ford asked her sons, Mike, Steve, and Jack, to try to smooth over tensions with the center.

He refused to smooth over their wrong doing or listen to the excuses they offered for going to war.

Could you see anything in that blind-like look sideways—and hair so smooth over the ear?

I had been willing to smooth over all differences with him until he made Mary Desmond the issue between us.

He must know how to deal with his pupils, how to smooth over the rough places of temperament.

This wears you out more than anything, for you have always to be ready to smooth over and soften every sentence that is said.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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