tone in

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

1. To fit well (with something, in colour, mood, etc.).

   […] some white grapes covered with a silver bloom and a big cluster of purple ones. These last she had bought to tone in with the new dining-room carpet.

   1920, Katherine Mansfield, “Bliss”, in Bliss and Other Stories, Toronto: Macmillan, pages 117–118

   2 more examples

   The stately couch […]; the high-backed chairs […]; the fine oak carvings—all gave a solemnity to the place that toned in with Constance’s forlorn spirit […]

   1841, Lord William Lennox, chapter 9, in Compton Audley,, volume 3, London: Richard Bentley, page 165

   She boiled some of the saveloys, and they sat down and ate them after they had picked the skins off. The thick, rubbery skin toned in with the dress Nance was wearing for the country.

   1970, Patrick White, chapter 4, in The Vivisector, London: Jonathan Cape, page 234

   Synonyms: go with, harmonize, match