tone down

present singular third person tones down · participle present toning down · participle past toned down · past toned down

1. ambitransitiveTo relax; to make quieter or less obtrusive; to make milder.

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

   2 more examples

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

   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.

   1849 July, Charles Kingsley, “North Devon”, in Prose Idylls, New and Old, London: Macmillan and Co., published 1873, →OCLC, page 265

   Antonyms: tone up

2. ambitransitivefigurativelyTo moderate or relax; to diminish or weaken the striking characteristics of; to soften.

   “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.

   2025 May 13, Richard Fausset, quoting Louis Prevost, “The Pope’s Florida Brother, a MAGA Disciple, Plans to ‘Tone It Down’”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   1 more example

   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.

   1858, John Gorham Palfrey, chapter VI, in History of New England during the Stuart Dynasty. […], volume I, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown, and Company, →OCLC, book I, page 218

3. ambitransitivebroadcastingTo make a television program, piece of writing, etc. less offensive and so more suitable for a family audience.