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to water down
[phrase form: water]
01
to make something such as a law, suggestion, etc. less intense, complicated, or forceful, typically by removing or reducing certain parts of it
Transitive: to water down a content or plan
Examples
The initial draft of the bill aimed to impose strict environmental regulations, but it was watered down after pressure from industry lobbyists.
The company 's ambitious expansion plans were watered down to focus on more achievable short-term goals.
02
to make something less strong by adding water to it
Transitive: to water down a substance
Examples
The chef had to water down the sauce to balance the flavors.
The instructions suggest not to water the fertilizer down too much.
03
to weaken the effectiveness of something such as an idea, opinion, speech, etc., usually by softening the language or removing content that might upset or offend people
Transitive: to water down sth
Examples
The movie's original ending was too intense, so they decided to water it down to make it more suitable for a wider audience.
The politician 's speech was watered down to avoid offending any potential voters, resulting in a vague and uninspiring message.
