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water down |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.03 sec. |
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water something down 1. to dilute something. Who watered the orange juice down? Jim watered down the orange juice. 2. to water something thoroughly. Will you water the lawn down tonight? Water down the lawn this evening so it will grow tomorrow. 3. Fig. to reduce the effectiveness or force of something. (Fig. on {2}.) Please don't water my declaration down. The new laws watered down the power of the president. See also: water water down something also water something down to make something weaker Some people say the new regulations water down several laws that protect people who rent apartments in the city. Once the bill is introduced, he's worried that lawmakers will water it down. Etymology: based on the literal meaning of water down something (to add water to a liquid to weaken things mixed in it) See also: water 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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When her husband next went away for one day, she told on slave to turn under the bird's cage a hand-mill; another to throw water down from above the cage, and a third to take a mirror and turn it in front of its eyes, from left to right by the light of a candle. Meanwhile the third man, who has been baling out the boat, and who has spilled the water down his sleeve, and has been cursing away to himself steadily for the last ten minutes, wants to know what the thundering blazes you're playing at, and why the blarmed tent isn't up yet. I could not lift him up, of course; but I rolled him over, and poured water down his back. |
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