take the edge off

Also found in: Legal

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take the edge off ((of) something)

1. Lit. to dull a blade. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Cutting hard stuff like that will take the edge off your knife blade.

2. Fig. to decrease the effect of something; to make something less blunt, critical, etc. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) He did not mean to insult the guest, and he quickly thought of something to say that would take the edge off his remark. Her comments were quite cruel, and nothing could be said to take the edge off of them.

See also: edge, take

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Anne wished herself back at Patty's Place, where there was always somebody else about to take the edge off a delicate situation. Anne of The Island by Montgomery, Lucy Maud View in context " and so saying, he seized a bucket and plunging it into one of the half jars took up three hens and a couple of geese, and said to Sancho, "Fall to, friend, and take the edge off your appetite with these skimmings until dinner-time comes. Don Quixote by Cervantes, Miguel View in context You might be a sort of protection for me, if you remained in it,' said Mr Boffin; 'you might stand betwixt him and me, and take the edge off him. Our Mutual Friend by Dickens, Charles View in context			take revenge take root take shape take sick take side take sides take sides against take solace take some doing take steps take stock take temperature take the bad with the good take the bait take the bit in teeth Take the bitter with the sweet take the blame take the bull by the horns take the cake take the chill off take the cloth take the count take the coward's way out take the cure take the easy way out take the edge off take the fall take the fall for take the fifth take the floor take the gloves off Take the goods the gods provide take the heat take the heat off take the initiative take the law into own hands take the liberty of take the liberty of doing take the lid off take the line of least resistance take the long view take the measure of take the mick take the piss take the pledge take the plunge take the pulse of take the rap Take the rough with the smooth take the shine off take the slack up			take the bread out of people's mouths take the brunt of take the bull by the horns take the bull by the horns Take the Bus Project take the cake take the cake take the cake take the cake take the cake take the cake Take The Car take the chances of take the checkered flag take the chill off take the cloth take the consequences take the consequences take the consequences take the count take the count take the count take the count take the count take the count take the coward's way out take the cure take the day off take the dimensions take the easy way out take the edge off take the fall take the fall for take the field take the field take the field take the field take the Fifth take the Fifth take the Fifth Amendment take the first step take the floor take the floor take the floor take the floor take the floor take the floor take the gloves off take the gloves off take the gloves off take the gloves off Take the goods the gods provide take the ground take the heat take the heat take the heat take the heat take the heat take the heat take the heat off take the hint

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