softly-softly

British

adjective

gradual, cautious, and discreet

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Friend and foe alike say a significant reason for the softly-softly approach is money -- or rather a lack of it.

From Reuters • Jan. 26, 2023

"The government may claim this subdued recovery justifies its softly-softly approach on deficit reduction," said Investec's economists David Page and Philip Shaw.

From The Guardian • Apr. 19, 2020

Schalke coach Andre Breitenreiter’s softly-softly approach appears to be paying dividends for his young team.

From Washington Times • Sep. 17, 2015

Now police across much of the UK take a softly-softly approach, writes Julie Bindel.

From BBC • Sep. 15, 2014

The new coaching staff tried a softly-softly evolution-not-revolution approach to team tactics, which left the older players resentful and the newer ones confused.

From Newsweek

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023