TONE DOWN Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

tone down

verb

(adverb) to moderate or become moderated in tone
to tone down an argument
to tone down a bright colour

Discover More

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]

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"I used to be flashy, but now I had to tone down because of my dogs."

From

"They said that it won't pass if we don't tone down something," she says, "and one of the suggestions was my outfit."

From

The revision also toned down what critics characterized as obscure academic jargon and bias against capitalism.

From

At the same time, he’s sought to tone down partisan rhetoric and work with the president on disaster recovery after the deadly Southern California wildfires in January.

From

“If you want to take advantage of the strength of the diaspora, then you have to tone down your rhetoric.”

From

Related 51�Թ�s

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

tone dialing tone language

Browse