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
Recent Examples on the Web
To soften the blow from the drop in sales, Hayes said she’s had to raise prices and shorten employees’ hours.
—
The Detroit News, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
If anything, renewables are helping cushion the blow from volatile gas markets.
—Frank Holmes, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
There have been some efforts to soften the blow of the tourism slump.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 21 Aug. 2025
But this humble nutrient does far more than just soften the blow of jet lag or common cold sniffles.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cushion/soften the blow
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The Detroit News, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
If anything, renewables are helping cushion the blow from volatile gas markets.
—Frank Holmes, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
There have been some efforts to soften the blow of the tourism slump.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 21 Aug. 2025
But this humble nutrient does far more than just soften the blow of jet lag or common cold sniffles.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 16 Aug. 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 4 Nov. 2025.
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