to make a problem seem less serious
A State Department rep was already en route to help smooth over any protocol matters.
An ability to smooth over differences is so valuable - though of course it's dangerous if it leads to compromises.
He’s trying to smooth over differences between the two leaders.
Usually he is asking his brother to have a word with one duke or another, to smooth over some political difference.
smoothes over
smoothing over
smoothed over
There is no origin for this phrasal verb
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