soften someone's cough

Meaning: (idiomatic)To completelynegateorunderminesomeone'sargumentorpositionon a topic.2004, Edmund Powers,The Last Chapter,→ISBN, page183:'Ha! That'ssoftened your cough. Now, we'll waste no more time out here gabbing,' and that leather, hobgoblin face became very, very businesslike.2009, Terry Wogan,Where Was I?!: The World According to Wogan,→ISBN:Let me fill you in on a few minor details that maysoften your cough.2010, Ross O'Carroll-Kelly,The Oh My God Delusion,→ISBN:'Everyone knows this place is an obvious front,' I go. 'You're laundering the moo you stashed in Andorra.' Thatsoftens his cough.; (idiomatic)Tohumbleorhumiliate;put someone in his place.2012, Arlene Hunt,Blood Money,→ISBN:Because this was blameless Mike's third such 'surprise', Justice Carmel Healy decided she'dsoften his coughby sticking him inside for a few months.2014, JP Burke,Perfumed Cargo,→ISBN, page52:That's one thundering snotty bitch!” “Yeah,” Hanly said as he started the engine. “Thinks she's Marie Antoinette or some other high and mighty queen. I know it would only be a fine but it might justsoften her cougha bit.2016, Mary Morrissy,Prosperity Drive,→ISBN:His father has mellowed, too; a bad hip hassoftened his cough.; Toeaseorsoothsomeone'scough.1836,The Parterre of Poetry and Historical Romance:O! now, my dear Doctor, but one glass of champagne, or a wine-glass of punch tosoften my cough!2003, Rosie Harris,Patsy of Paradise Place,→ISBN:That'll help tosoften his cough. I bet that's what your mam used to do for you when you were a bit chesty?2009, Amy Boaz,A Richer Dust,→ISBN, page230:I rode down the mountain to get the powder he needed tosoften his cough. He said he couldn't breathe.

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