cushion/soften the blow
idiom
: to make one's disappointment less painful
She was disappointed not to get the job, but the promise of another job cushioned/softened the blow.
Examples of cushion/soften the blow in a Sentence
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Below, experts share why C-sections can turn painful or sometimes agonizing, even with the standard anesthesia in place, and what can be done to soften the blow.
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Erica Sloan, SELF, 16 July 2025
If its function in the premiere is to soften the blow, its role here is to lend cinematic weight to what might otherwise feel like dry, procedural detail.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 10 July 2025
Maybe the holiday week will soften the blow... -Kayla
Forwarded this newsletter from a friend?
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 3 July 2025
Officials said the state would try to soften the blow for schools, nonprofits, Medicaid and food assistance programs slated to lose funding under Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill but could not absorb the total of the cuts proposed.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cushion/soften the blow
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Erica Sloan, SELF, 16 July 2025
If its function in the premiere is to soften the blow, its role here is to lend cinematic weight to what might otherwise feel like dry, procedural detail.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 10 July 2025
Maybe the holiday week will soften the blow... -Kayla
Forwarded this newsletter from a friend?
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 3 July 2025
Officials said the state would try to soften the blow for schools, nonprofits, Medicaid and food assistance programs slated to lose funding under Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill but could not absorb the total of the cuts proposed.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cushion/soften the blow
Cite this Entry
“Cushion/soften the blow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cushion%2Fsoften%20the%20blow. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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