What does "water down" mean (sense 1)?

To add water to a drink or liquid to reduce its strength or concentration. Example: "He watered down the squash because the children found it too sweet."

What does "water down" mean (sense 2)?

To reduce the force, effectiveness, or impact of something, especially a policy, law, or proposal. Example: "Critics accused the government of watering down the environmental legislation to appease industry lobbies."

What does "water down" mean (sense 3)?

To simplify or reduce the challenge or quality of something to make it more accessible or less controversial. Example: "The teacher watered down the exam because so many students had struggled with the material."

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water down

B2 neutral separable transitive

To dilute a liquid or to weaken the impact, strength, or effect of something.

In plain English

To add water to a drink to make it weaker, or to make a plan or idea less strong or effective.

What does "water down" mean?

3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 B1 neutral

common

To add water to a drink or liquid to reduce its strength or concentration.

"He watered down the squash because the children found it too sweet."

separable

2 B2 idiomatic neutral

very common

To reduce the force, effectiveness, or impact of something, especially a policy, law, or proposal.

"Critics accused the government of watering down the environmental legislation to appease industry lobbies."

“

The final bill was a watered-down version of what reformers had hoped for.
— The New York Times, widely attested phrasing in political reporting (various dates)

separable

3 B2 idiomatic informal

common

To simplify or reduce the challenge or quality of something to make it more accessible or less controversial.

"The teacher watered down the exam because so many students had struggled with the material."

separable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To put water into something to make it less concentrated — the figurative meaning directly extends from this.

Actually means

To add water to a drink to make it weaker, or to make a plan or idea less strong or effective.

Usage tip

The literal sense refers to diluting drinks. The figurative sense is extremely common in journalism and politics, often used to criticise proposals that have been weakened under pressure. Both British and American English use this expression frequently.

Words that pair with "water down"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

policy legislation proposal bill message version drink wine juice

How to conjugate "water down"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base

water down

I/you/we/they

3rd person

waters down

he/she/it

Past simple

watered down

yesterday

Past participle

watered down

have + pp

-ing form

watering down

continuous

Hear "water down" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "water down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.

All phrasal verbs with "water" All phrasal verbs with "down" More B2-level phrasal verbs