tone down
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle down
Meanings
Make less intense or extreme
Why “down”? When there is less of something, it goes down. Prices, sound, heat and speed all work this way.
“Tone down the colours a bit.”
“The editor toned down the headline.”
Test yourself
“Tone down the colours a bit.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
bring down
Same down pattern: less
Cause something to fall or land; Make something lower in level or amount; Cause a government or leader to lose power; Make someone feel sad or depressed
come down
Same down pattern: less
Drop from a high level it has been at; Move to a lower level, price or position; Have been passed down from earlier generations; Decide in favour of one side after consideration; Become ill with a particular illness; (of rain, snow or hail) fall
cool down
Same down pattern: less
Become or make less hot; Become calmer after anger or excitement; Do gentle exercise after a hard workout
count down
Same down pattern: less
Count backwards to zero before an event
cut down
Same down pattern: less
Reduce the amount of something; Fell a tree by cutting at its base; Kill or seriously injure many people quickly
die down
Same down pattern: less
Feelings or excitement gradually become calmer; Become less strong, loud or active
dress down
Same down pattern: less
Wear less formal clothes than usual
drive down
Same down pattern: less
Cause prices, numbers or values to fall
Practice “tone down” in Sink In
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