smooth over

British  

verb

1. (tr) to ease or gloss over

   to smooth over a situation

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smooth over Idioms  

1. Rid of obstructions or difficulties, as in We tried to smooth things over between the families before the wedding but did not succeed. [Late 1600s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

smooth over

Skilled interlocutors, like Graham, who had the ear of both Trump and Netanyahu were able to help smooth over such differences in the past, analysts said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

But they have helped to smooth over ties with the European Union, frayed by Orban's closeness to the Kremlin.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

Torrenting was also fast and smooth over ExpressVPN.

From Salon ● Mar. 13, 2026

Supporters say the proposal, which the supervisors are pushing to get on the November ballot, would offer a new tool to smooth over disputes and provide a “reset” after recent tumultuous contract negotiations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2026

You start trying to reshape the nose and smooth over some of the bumps, but the clay has started to harden and it’s a lot more difficult to work with.

From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge

Related Words

• arbitrate
• clear up
• eradicate
• expedite
• get rid of
• harmonize
• negotiate
• resolve
• settle
• straighten out
• unravel