Meaning of tone down | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To relax; to make quieter or less obtrusive; to make milder.
   ambitransitive
2. To moderate or relax; to diminish or weaken the striking characteristics of; to soften.
   ambitransitive, figuratively
3. To make a television program, piece of writing, etc. less offensive and so more suitable for a family audience.
   ambitransitive

Equivalents

Examples

“Ask them to tone down that orange and pink color scheme a bit.”

“I hope they’ll tone it down and stop arguing so much.”

“There it all lay beneath us like a map; its thousand hues toned down harmoniously by the summer haze, and 'the eye was not filled with seeing,' nor the spirit with the intoxicating sight of infinitely various life and form in perfectest repose.”

“The best method for the purpose in hand was to employ some one of a character and position suited to get possession of their confidence, and then use it to tone down their religious strictness, and, if circumstances should favor, to disturb the ecclesiastical constitution which they had set up.”

““Well, I posted it, and I wouldn’t have posted it if I didn’t kind of believe it,” said Mr. Prevost, who added that he would “probably tone it down” now that his brother was the Vicar of Jesus Christ.”

CEFR level