flatten the curve

American  

[flat-n thuh kurv] / ˈflæt n ðə ˈkɜrv /

idiom

1. (during a disease outbreak) to use public health measures to achieve a more gradual increase and decrease in the number of new cases, spreading the same total number of cases over a longer period of time, as depicted by a gently sloping curved line on a graph.

   Flattening the curve will prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed with patients.

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Etymology

Origin of flatten the curve

First recorded in 2005–10

Example Sentences

But if the labor market falters in a way that raises expectations for weaker economic growth and softer inflation, this could flatten the curve around the time the Fed starts cutting rates.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 6, 2026

We were soon learning new phrases like "social distancing" and "flatten the curve" and started wearing make-shift masks everywhere, hoarding toilet paper and inexplicably sterilizing our canned goods.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2022

In the days following, the actress apologized for her "dismissive, arrogant" comments on the matter and assured fans that she was social distancing and staying home to "flatten the curve."

From Fox News • Jan. 27, 2022

Instead of banning travel from South Africa and elsewhere, the federal government should have focused on public health measures that might have helped flatten the curve, Scarpino said.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 19, 2022

But some public health experts say that the effort to flatten the curve should also emphasize social distancing, restrictions on large gatherings and more stringent mask-wearing rules.

From New York Times • Dec. 22, 2021