Damp down
verb
To make something less intense, active or violent.
The police tried to damp down the violence in the city.
Often appears as...
- damp down protests
- damp down speculation
Usage tips
Colloquial
verb
To make a fire burn less brightly or slowly by reducing the amount of air available.
He damped down the fire before going to bed.
Often appears as...
- damp down fire
- damp down heat
Usage tips
Colloquial
verb
To make soil or another material wet.
Before planting the seeds, you must damp down the soil.
Often appears as...
- damp down soil
- damp down compost
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To make something less intense, active or violent.
The police tried to damp down the violence in the city.
Often appears as...
- damp down protests
- damp down speculation
Usage tips
Colloquial
verb
To make a fire burn less brightly or slowly by reducing the amount of air available.
He damped down the fire before going to bed.
Often appears as...
- damp down fire
- damp down heat
Usage tips
Colloquial
verb
To make soil or another material wet.
Before planting the seeds, you must damp down the soil.
Often appears as...
- damp down soil
- damp down compost
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Non-physical action
Used metaphorically to describe reducing the intensity of actions or emotions, not just physical things.
The government acted swiftly to damp down the rumors.
Pro Tip 2/3Not silence
Doesn't mean to stop something completely, but to make it less intense.
The new policy helped to damp down the public outcry without silencing the concerns.
Pro Tip 3/3Often negative
Commonly used in contexts where something unwanted is being made less strong.
The principal's announcement helped to damp down the tension among students.
Pro Tip 1/3Non-physical action
Used metaphorically to describe reducing the intensity of actions or emotions, not just physical things.
The government acted swiftly to damp down the rumors.
Pro Tip 2/3Not silence
Doesn't mean to stop something completely, but to make it less intense.
The new policy helped to damp down the public outcry without silencing the concerns.
Pro Tip 3/3Often negative
Commonly used in contexts where something unwanted is being made less strong.
The principal's announcement helped to damp down the tension among students.
Pro Tip 1/3Non-physical action
Used metaphorically to describe reducing the intensity of actions or emotions, not just physical things.
The government acted swiftly to damp down the rumors.
Pro Tip 2/3Not silence
Doesn't mean to stop something completely, but to make it less intense.
The new policy helped to damp down the public outcry without silencing the concerns.
Pro Tip 3/3Often negative
Commonly used in contexts where something unwanted is being made less strong.
The principal's announcement helped to damp down the tension among students.
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