tone down

verb

1. adverb to moderate or become moderated in tone

   to tone down a bright colour

   to tone down an argument

Idioms and Phrases

Make less vivid, harsh, or violent; moderate. For example, That's a little too much rouge; I'd tone it down a bit , or Do you think I should tone down this letter of complaint? This idiom uses tone in the sense of “adjust the tone or quality of something,” as does the antonym, tone up , meaning “brighten or strengthen.” For example, These curtains will tone up the whole room , or This exercise is said to tone up the triceps . [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

Johnson urged conservatives to tone down their rhetoric to try to broaden the base.

From The Daily Beast

All leaders involved have to tone down their “explanations” and self-justifications.

From The Daily Beast

Progressives would be wise to tone down the triumphalism—at least in the run up to midterms.

From The Daily Beast

Speechwriter Mark Katz quickly scrambled to tone down the jokes.

From The Daily Beast

Now they are joining forces—politically and in business—to urge their parties to tone down the negativity and personal attacks.

From The Daily Beast

They tone down its severity of style, and cast gently into it a mellowed light akin to that of the “dim religious” order.

From Project Gutenberg

Usually only an exceedingly small amount of its complement is needed to tone down a given color.

From Project Gutenberg

First, as a form in repose, she will tone down savage life, and pave the way from feeling to thought.

From Project Gutenberg

He anticipates success, but is gradually learning to tone down his enthusiasm, realizing that difficulties beset his way.

From Project Gutenberg

It is very difficult for the Muscular to "tone down" this powerful voice.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dampen
• dim
• mitigate
• modulate
• play down
• restrain
• soften
• temper