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take the edge off |
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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. take the edge off something to make something unpleasant have less of an effect on someone Have an apple. It'll take the edge off your hunger for a while. His apology took the edge off her anger. See lose edgetake the edge off something to reduce the effect of something, esp. something unpleasant Ceiling fans can take the edge off summer heat. The memorial service didn't bring my husband back to life, but it took the edge off my sorrow. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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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. " 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. 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. |
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