cushion/soften the blow

idiom

: to make one's disappointment less painful
She was disappointed not to get the job, but the promise of another job cushioned/softened the blow.

Examples of cushion/soften the blow in a Sentence

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While parting ways with Carr would inevitably result in dead money, the Saints could soften the blow by designating him for a post-June 1 cut. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025 The addition of a good prospect in Jett Luchanko and the progress of some others internally helps to soften the blow but not enough to prevent their pool from now looking like a middle-of-the-pack one that lacks a high-end talent. Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025 Winning seven of 11 games was not a numerical omen of good fortune for the Ducks, who have since dropped seven of eight decisions with only a pair of overtime losses and an OT win to soften the blow. Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 22 Jan. 2025 Incorporating income investing into the bigger plan can sometimes soften the blow and allow for a less painful version of the necessary waiting game as investors navigate the natural, cyclical market volatility. Wes Moss, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for cushion/soften the blow 

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Cite this Entry

“Cushion/soften the blow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cushion%2Fsoften%20the%20blow. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

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