damp down
B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To make something less strong or less likely to get out of control.
Literal meaning: To make something damp (wet) so it goes down (reduces in intensity).
Meanings
1 B2 neutral
To reduce or control a fire by restricting its air supply, covering it with ash, or adding moisture.
"The firefighters damped down the embers to prevent the blaze from reigniting overnight."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To reduce or suppress the strength of a feeling, reaction, or situation.
"The central bank's statement damped down fears of an imminent interest rate rise."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Has both literal uses (e.g. reducing a fire by covering it with ash or closing vents) and figurative uses (e.g. reducing speculation or enthusiasm). The figurative sense is common in journalism and formal writing.
Commonly used with
fire flames speculation enthusiasm tension fears
Forms
Base
damp down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
damps down
he/she/it
Past simple
damped down
yesterday
Past participle
damped down
have + pp
-ing form
damping down
continuous
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