soft pedal
US /ˌsɑːftˈped.əl/
UK /ˌsɑːftˈped.əl/
1.
verharmlosen, mildern
to treat or describe something as less important, serious, or urgent than it really is
:
•
The government tried to soft-pedal the economic crisis.
Die Regierung versuchte, die Wirtschaftskrise zu verharmlosen.
•
She decided to soft-pedal her criticism to avoid conflict.
Sie beschloss, ihre Kritik zu mildern, um Konflikte zu vermeiden.