smooth down
B1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To press or rub something to make it lie flat and neat.
Literal meaning: To smooth something by pressing it downward.
Meanings
1 A2 neutral
To press or stroke something flat and neat with a downward motion.
"He nervously smoothed down his hair before walking into the boardroom."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To calm or soothe someone who is agitated or ruffled.
"It took a lot of patience to smooth down the angry customer."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Used literally for hair, fabric, and surfaces. Also used figuratively to mean making someone less upset or agitated. The literal sense is more frequent.
Commonly used with
hair skirt fabric feathers dress surface
Forms
Base
smooth down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
smooths down
he/she/it
Past simple
smoothed down
yesterday
Past participle
smoothed down
have + pp
-ing form
smoothing down
continuous
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