tone down

tone down — phrasal verb

  • tone downbase form
  • tones down3rd person singular
  • toning down-ing form
  • toned downpast simple

1. to express something in a less direct, angry, or offensive way so that it is mor

1.片語動詞及物B2
釋義

to express something in a less direct, angry, or offensive way so that it is more acceptable to others — for example, softening criticism in a written review or making a political comment less harsh.

例句

The editor asked Otis to tone down his article about the mayor's storm response.

tone down + article / report / speech

After complaints from parents, the school administrators toned down the language in the safety alert.

passive: be asked / advised to tone down [something]

同義詞
  • soften

    broader meaning; works for volume, texture, and attitude

  • moderate

    more formal; suggests a deliberate, controlled reduction

  • temper

    implies adding a balancing element to reduce harshness

反義詞
  • intensify

    to make stronger or more extreme

  • exaggerate

    to present something as more extreme than it really is

文法句型

tone down + noun phrase

tone + noun phrase + down

用法筆記

The direct object is typically a noun related to language or expression: article, speech, language, remarks, criticism, claims, or advertising. When a pronoun replaces the object, it must go between 'tone' and 'down' (tone it down, not tone down it).

常見錯誤

❌He toned up his criticism.
✅He toned down his criticism.
💡'tone up' does not mean 'make less extreme'; the correct phrasal verb for softening is always 'tone down'.
❌She toned down it when she saw his reaction.
✅She toned it down when she saw his reaction.
💡pronoun objects must go between the verb and the particle.

2. to reduce the brightness or vividness of a colour or source of light, so that th

2.片語動詞及物B2
釋義

to reduce the brightness or vividness of a colour or source of light, so that the overall visual effect is softer and more pleasant.

例句

Sofia toned down the red walls in her bedroom by painting them a softer pink.

tone down + colour (red, orange, yellow, blue)

The photographer toned down the glare from the window by adjusting the blinds.

同義詞
  • soften

    works for colours, light, and sound; very common

  • subdue

    suggests bringing under control; slightly more formal

  • mute

    specifically for colours; makes less vivid without removing colour entirely

反義詞
  • brighten

    to make more vivid or luminous

  • intensify

    to increase strength or depth of colour

文法句型

tone down + colour/light noun phrase

用法筆記

Commonly used with bold colours (red, orange, yellow) and light sources (lights, glare, glow, brightness). Unlike sense 1, this sense rarely takes abstract nouns as the object.

常見錯誤

❌She toned down the colour off.
✅She toned down the colour.
💡'tone down' already means 'reduce intensity'; adding 'off' is redundant and grammatically incorrect.