moderate ♦︎ dampen ♦︎ temper ♦︎ blunt ♦︎ tone sth down ♦︎ modifyThese words all mean to make sth less strong or extreme.这些词均表示使缓和、使适中、减弱。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆to moderate / tone down / modify your language◆to moderate / modify your behaviour / demands / views■moderateˈmɒdəreɪt; NAmEˈmɑːdəreɪt [transitive, intransitive] (ratherformal) to become or make sth become less extreme, severe or strong缓和;使适中◆We agreed to moderate our original demands.我们同意降低原先的要求。◆She apologized immediately and moderated her voice.她立刻道了歉并压低了嗓门。◆By evening the wind had moderated slightly.到黄昏时,风稍稍减弱了。ⓘ Moderate is often used to talk about things that are done by people, for example behaviour, criticism or language, and usually has a person as the subject of the verb. * moderate常用以谈及人们所做之事,主语通常是人,搭配词有behaviour、criticism、language等。■dampen [transitive] to make sth such as a feeling or reaction less strong抑制,控制,减弱(感情、反应等)◆None of the setbacks could dampen his enthusiasm.任何挫折都不能减弱他的热情。◆She wasn't going to let anything dampen her spirits today.她不想让任何事情影响她今天的兴致。■temper [transitive, often passive] (formal) to make sth less severe by adding sth that has the opposite effect使缓和;使温和◆Justice must be tempered with mercy.法外尚须施以仁恕。◆The hot sunny days were tempered by a light breeze.一阵轻风为晴朗炎热的天气带去些许凉意。■blunt [transitive] to make a feeling or ability weaker or less effective使(情感)减弱;使(能力)变差;使降低效应◆Age hadn't blunted his passion for adventure.岁月没有冲淡他对冒险的热情。◆Living alone in the country had blunted her wits.在乡下的独居生活使她的头脑不复敏锐。■ˌtone sth ˈdown
phrasal verb
to make a speech or opinion less extreme or offensive使(讲话或意见)缓和;使温和◆The language of the article will have to be toned down for the mass market.这篇文章的措辞必须缓和一下以适合大众市场。■modifyˈmɒdɪfaɪ; NAmEˈmɑːdɪfaɪ [transitive] (formal) to make your behaviour, attitude or language less extreme, especially in order to avoid offending sb使(行为、态度或语言)温和;缓和◆The social worker at first aimed to get Mrs R to modify her behaviour, without success.社会福利工作者最初力求使R夫人缓和自己的行为,但没有成功。