water down

édulcorer, atténuer

Rendre des propos moins forts en changeant les mots ou en supprimant les passages qui pourraient choquer.

En anglais simple : To make a statement weaker by changing its words or removing parts that might upset people.

• She watered down her criticism.
• They watered down the report to avoid upsetting the minister.
• Why did you water the statement down?

Comment l'utiliser : water something down (The committee watered the statement down before publishing it.)

Synonymes : soften, tone down, weaken

Contraires : strengthen

Expressions courantes : water down a statement, water down their criticism

couper avec de l’eau, diluer

Ajouter de l’eau à une boisson pour atténuer son goût ou réduire sa concentration en alcool.

En anglais simple : To add water to a drink so that its taste or alcohol becomes less strong.

• Please water down my juice.
• They watered down the wine before serving it.
• Has someone watered this lemonade down?

Comment l'utiliser : water something down (The bartender watered the whisky down.)

Synonymes : dilute

Expressions courantes : water down a drink, water down the wine

diluer, couper avec de l’eau

Ajouter de l’eau à un liquide pour le rendre moins concentré ou moins épais.

En anglais simple : To add water to a liquid so that it becomes less strong or less thick.

• Water down the juice a little.
• She watered down the soup because it was too thick.
• Have you watered this paint down enough?

Comment l'utiliser : water something down (I watered the paint down before using it.)

Synonymes : dilute, thin

Contraires : concentrate, thicken

Expressions courantes : water down juice, water down paint, water down something

simplifier

Rendre quelque chose plus facile à comprendre ou à faire, souvent en supprimant des parties importantes ou difficiles.

En anglais simple : To make something easier to understand or do, often by removing important or difficult parts.

• They watered down the course.
• The publisher watered down the science for young readers.
• Must we water the lessons down so much?

Comment l'utiliser : water something down for someone (They watered the course down for younger students.)

Synonymes : simplify, dumb down

Contraires : complicate

Expressions courantes : water down a course, water down the content