watered-down
/ˌwɔːtəd ˈdaʊn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌwɔːtərd ˈdaʊn/ (ame, ipa)
watered-down — 形容詞
1. An idea, proposal, or piece of writing that has been deliberately made less forc
弱化；折衷
刻意降低強度以迎合他人
An idea, proposal, or piece of writing that has been deliberately made less forceful or less extreme than the original version, usually to avoid upsetting people or to gain acceptance.
The environmental group refused to support what it called a watered-down climate bill.
環保團體拒絕支持他們所謂的弱化版氣候法案。
collocation: watered-down + bill / proposal / law
After negotiations, the company issued a watered-down apology that omitted any mention of wrongdoing.
經過協商後，該公司發表了一份折衷的道歉聲明，隻字未提任何不當行為。
Mira read the watered-down version of the report and wondered what the original had contained.
Mira 閱讀了那份弱化版的報告，好奇原始版本究竟寫了什麼。
Many voters felt the watered-down tax reform did little to help working families.
許多選民認為弱化版的稅改方案對勞動家庭幫助不大。
The watered-down safety rules were dismissed by critics as a win for the mining industry.
批評者認為這些弱化的安全規範不過是送給礦業的一份大禮。
- toned-down
closer to reducing rhetorical or stylistic intensity, not necessarily betraying the original
- diluted
less common in figurative use; more clinical and technical
- weakened
more general; can describe any loss of strength, not just deliberate softening
- tempered
suggests a controlled, purposeful reduction to achieve balance
- strong
the opposite of intentionally weakened
- forceful
describes language or ideas delivered with conviction
- uncompromising
refusing to soften or moderate
用法筆記
Commonly modifies nouns such as version, proposal, bill, law, apology, plan, and rules. The implied criticism is that the original was sacrificed to avoid conflict.
常見錯誤
watered-down — 動詞
- watered-downpresent simple I / you / we / they
- watered-downs3rd person singular
- watered-downing-ing form
- watered-downedpast simple
1. To deliberately weaken an idea, statement, proposal, or set of rules by removing
削弱；淡化
降低強度或力度
To deliberately weaken an idea, statement, proposal, or set of rules by removing its strongest or most demanding parts, often so that a wider range of people will accept it.
The committee watered down the original proposal to win support from both parties.
委員會弱化了原始提案，以爭取兩黨的支持。
transitive: water down + noun phrase (proposal / plan / standard)
Critics said the government had watered down the regulation until it was completely meaningless.
批評者指出，政府已將該法規削弱到毫無意義的地步。
The final draft was watered down after the publisher worried about offending readers.
由於出版社擔心冒犯讀者，最終的稿件被淡化了。
Politicians often water down their campaign promises once they take office.
政治人物一旦上任，往往會淡化他們的競選承諾。
The school board watered down the policy after parents said it was too strict.
在家長表示政策過於嚴格後，學區委員會將其弱化了。
The original plan was so ambitious that the team had to water it down to get approval.
原計劃太過野心勃勃，團隊只好將其弱化以獲得批准。
Never let the committee water down your research findings to fit their political agenda.
千萬別讓委員會為了迎合政治議程而淡化你的研究結果。
- dilute
the closest synonym; slightly more formal and also retains its literal liquid meaning
- weaken
more general; can apply to physical objects or abstract concepts
- soften
suggests making something less harsh without necessarily reducing its core content
- tone down
focuses on reducing the level of force or intensity of language or behaviour
- strengthen
to make something stronger or more forceful
- toughen
to make rules or policies stricter
- intensify
to increase the degree or force of something
文法句型
water down + noun phrase
be watered down to + infinitive
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice (be watered down) to focus on the result rather than the agent. The object is typically an abstract noun: a proposal, plan, rule, standard, promise, or piece of legislation.