water down

表現を和らげる、弱める

言葉を変えたり不快にさせる部分を削ったりして、発言の強さを弱める。

やさしい英語で： To make a statement weaker by changing its words or removing parts that might upset people.

• She watered down her criticism.
• They watered down the report to avoid upsetting the minister.
• Why did you water the statement down?

使い方： water something down (The committee watered the statement down before publishing it.)

類義語： soften, tone down, weaken

反対語： strengthen

よく使う表現： water down a statement, water down their criticism

水で薄める

飲み物に水を加えて、味やアルコールの濃さを弱める。

やさしい英語で： To add water to a drink so that its taste or alcohol becomes less strong.

• Please water down my juice.
• They watered down the wine before serving it.
• Has someone watered this lemonade down?

使い方： water something down (The bartender watered the whisky down.)

類義語： dilute

よく使う表現： water down a drink, water down the wine

水で薄める

液体に水を加え、濃さやとろみを減らす。

やさしい英語で： To add water to a liquid so that it becomes less strong or less thick.

• Water down the juice a little.
• She watered down the soup because it was too thick.
• Have you watered this paint down enough?

使い方： water something down (I watered the paint down before using it.)

類義語： dilute, thin

反対語： concentrate, thicken

よく使う表現： water down juice, water down paint, water down something

易しくする、単純化する

重要な部分や難しい部分を省くなどして、理解や実行を簡単にする。

やさしい英語で： To make something easier to understand or do, often by removing important or difficult parts.

• They watered down the course.
• The publisher watered down the science for young readers.
• Must we water the lessons down so much?

使い方： water something down for someone (They watered the course down for younger students.)

類義語： simplify, dumb down

反対語： complicate

よく使う表現： water down a course, water down the content