smooth something ↔ over phrasal verb (see also smooth)
if you smooth over problems, difficulties etc, you make them seem less serious and easier to control, especially by talking to the people who are involved in the problem:
Sally managed to smooth over the bad feelings between them.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

smooth over
smooth over (something)
to make problems seem less serious.
He's on a three-day visit to smooth over a crisis.

They failed to agree on the main issue, and he certainly wasn't going to ignore it or try to smooth it over.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

smooth over something
smooth over (something)
to make problems seem less serious.
He's on a three-day visit to smooth over a crisis.

They failed to agree on the main issue, and he certainly wasn't going to ignore it or try to smooth it over.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

smooth over
to make something better or more pleasant
We tried to smooth over the problems between our boss and the sales staff.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

smooth something over
to make something better or more pleasant
We tried to smooth over the problems between our boss and the sales staff.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

smooth over
v. To make something seem better or more pleasant; try to excuse.
Bill tried to smooth over his argument with Mary by making her laugh.
Synonym: GLOSS OVER.
Compare: PATCH UP.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲