water down

verb

1. to dilute or weaken with water

2. to modify or adulterate, esp so as to omit anything harsh, unpleasant, or offensive

   to water down the truth

Other Word Forms

• watered-down adjective

Idioms and Phrases

Dilute or weaken, as in He watered down that unfavorable report with feeble excuses. [Mid-1800s]

Related Words

• attenuate 
• weaken