soft on
Idioms-
Attracted to or emotionally involved with, as in He's been soft on Margaret for years . This usage was first recorded in 1840.
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Not stern, lenient, especially too much so. For example, Some think the court has been soft on violent protesters . This usage was first recorded in 1883.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Toward the end of Elizabeth II’s reign, critics argued that the queen had been too soft on her son Andrew.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026
Ryerson, who worked on Kennedy's independent presidential campaign, said she was tired of successive Democratic and Republican administrations going too soft on the chemical industry.
From Barron's ● Feb. 16, 2026
And, sure, if you squint, maybe the foot traffic at the Luxor looks a little soft on a Wednesday.
From Slate ● Nov. 18, 2025
"This is not about being soft on crime, it is about more effectively reducing crime."
From BBC ● Dec. 27, 2024
“He needs some toughening up—y’all being too soft on him!”
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
