dampen off

1. To make something slightly wet. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "dampen" and "off." Workers are dampening off the paths to help keep dust under control during the hot, arid months. I have to dampen off my hair before combing it, or else it just sticks straight up. The envelope still isn't fully sealed—you need to damp the adhesive down a little bit more.

2. Of a plant or seed, to die or fail to grow due to overexposure to water. I'm worried that days of torrential rain will cause the flowers I just planted to dampen off. Whoa, no, if you water your succulent that often, it'll dampen off! My last few plants dampened off, so I stick to fake plants now.

3. To kill a seed or young plant by overwatering them or exposing them to too much moisture. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "dampen" and "off." You shouldn't water the seedlings more than once a day if you want to avoid dampening them off. What did the guy at the greenhouse tell you? Follow his guidelines on watering, and you won't dampen these guys off. Take it easy watering these new flowers, OK? You want to give them a drink, not dampen them off!

4. To remove something by making a surface or material damp. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "dampen" and "off." The lacquer is resistant to stains, so you should be able to simply dampen off any marks or blemishes left from liquids. Hmm, you might not be able to dampen off a stain that dark. I'm thinking you'll need some sort of cleaner to get the job done. Yeah, if that suede has been pre-treated with something, you might be able to just dampen off those marks.

5. To become stifled, subdued, or reduced in intensity. Consumers' interest in the product dampened off when it came to light that a newer model was already in development. The economy seems to be dampening off in light of the Federal Reserve's recent forecast. But what about free speech, huh? Will free speech dampen off if this latest bill gets passed?

6. To have a stifling, subduing, or deadening effect on something, such as an action or emotion. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "dampen" and "off." We just installed new sound-absorbing windows to help dampen off all the road noise we hear during the night. Hearing more details about the project certainly dampened my enthusiasm off for it. If your stove is burning a bit too hot, you can spread a thin layer of ashes over the top to help dampen it off.