What does "water down" mean?

To dilute; to make less strong or effective To weaken something, especially criticism or proposals.

How do you use "water down" in a sentence?

They watered down the proposal. Don't water down the message. The report was watered down.

Phrasal Verb BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

Meaning: To dilute; to make less strong or effective

稀释；削弱

Diluir; suavizar, atenuar

薄める、弱める

희석하다, 약화시키다

To weaken something, especially criticism or proposals.

弱化某事物，尤其是批评或提案。

Debilitar algo, especialmente críticas o propuestas.

何か、特に批判や提案を弱める。

무언가, 특히 비판이나 제안의 힘을 약하게 만드는 것.

Base verb: water

Particle: down

Separable: Yes — the object can go between the verb and particle

They watered down the proposal.
他们弱化了这个提案
Suavizaron la propuesta
彼らは提案を骨抜きにした
그들은 그 제안을 골자만 남기고 약화시켰다.
Don't water down the message.
不要淡化这个信息
No atenuéis el mensaje
メッセージを薄めないで
메시지를 약화시키지 마세요.
The report was watered down.
报告被删减淡化了
El informe fue edulcorado
その報告書は内容が薄められた
그 보고서는 내용이 희석되었다.

Context: weakening, compromise

Tone: critical

From adding water to dilute.

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal