| 释义 |
soft-pedal, v.
[f. prec.]
trans. and intr. (freq. const. on). To reduce the loudness or volume of (a noise); to reduce in force or effect; to tone down, play down, go easy on.
1915R. Wagner in Sat. Even. Post 16 Oct. 15/2 The scene was rehearsed time and again, but always the action looked faked because of the necessity of soft⁓pedaling such a blow. 1916G. A. England Pod, Bender & Co. i. 6 Can that! Soft pedal on that chatter, Ben! 1926R. H. Davis Over my Left Shoulder xxix. 204 ‘Captain Sam heap mad!’ replied the Peacemaker, with no effort to soft pedal the announcement. 1927Daily Express 19 July 3/4 Both parties are at present ‘soft pedalling’ on the world-revolution thesis. 1931F. F. Bond Mr. Miller of ‘The Times’ 170 The leading educational centres tended to stress the utilitarian studies and soft-pedal those courses which sought merely cultural ends. 1932K. S. Prichard Kiss on Lips & Other Stories 20 He soft⁓pedalled about Rose, and the skinflint of an aunt who threatened to take her away. 1944Auden Sea & Mirror in For Time Being i. 8 Be frank about our heathen foe, For Rome will be a goner If you soft-pedal the loud beast. 1953A. Upfield Murder must Wait v. 47 ‘We'll get something out of her.’ ‘You will soft-pedal,’ Bony said quietly. 1957W. H. Whyte Organization Man 52 Out of respect for the sense of the meeting you tend to soft⁓pedal that which would go against the grain. 1965Listener 27 May 764/1 He must have the drug or endure the sheer agony which the romanticists soft-pedal: high⁓fever, shivering, fits of vomiting, [etc.]. 1978R. Hill Pinch of Snuff vi. 55 You're noted for soft-pedalling on these squatters.
Hence soft-ˈpedalling vbl. n.
1952G. Raverat Period Piece x. 197 Uncle Lenny was far too judicious to need soft-pedalling. 1979New Statesman 6 July 3/3 The concern of homophile organisations to make homosexuality an acceptable alternative has led to a distinct soft-pedalling on ticklish issues like paedophilia and transvestism. |