mood music

noun

1. music comprised chiefly of popular songs in lush orchestral arrangements, intended to provide a relaxing, soothing atmosphere.

mood music

noun

1. recorded music played in the background in a place to establish a mood of relaxation, calm, etc

2. a prevailing atmosphere or feeling

Word History and Origins

Origin of mood music¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Senate Majority Leader John Thune set the buoyant mood music on Monday when he told reporters he felt "optimistic" that newly energized talks between warring Republicans and Democrats could end in a deal before next week.

Read more on Barron's

Summarising where countries are at, Andersen said: "The mood music is: 'we're still in the negotiations. We are not walking away. We have our red lines, but we have a better understanding of the others' red lines. And we still want this'."

Read more on Barron's

The mood music among the military is that investing more in huge, astronomically expensive vessels like aircraft carriers is risky when they could be taken out by new weaponry like hypersonic missiles or drone ships.

Read more on BBC

But four months on, the BMA has said the mood music hasn't improved and they feel the department door has been shut.

Read more on BBC

The scoreline may have flipped by the final whistle but the mood music in the two camps was the same as early on.

Read more on BBC