cushion

cushion/soften the blow

to make a difficult experience less unpleasant. Free street parking is to be abolished, but residents are being offered reduced price parking permits in an attempt to cushion the blow.

See also: blow, soften

---

cushion the blow

to do something that reduces harm. The way to cushion the blow is to raise prices slowly, not all at once.

Etymology: from the idea of making the force of one thing hitting another less damaging by surrounding it with something soft

See also: blow