Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

soften someone's cough

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.23 in modern English

Syllables: soft-en -some-one's -cough
IPA

30

Scrabble Score

19

Letters

5

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To completely negate or undermine someone's argument or position on a topic.

verb

To humble or humiliate; put someone in his place.

verb

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see soften, cough.

Example Sentences

"'Ha! That's softened your cough. Now, we'll waste no more time out here gabbing,' and that leather, hobgoblin face became very, very businesslike."
"Let me fill you in on a few minor details that may soften your cough."
"'Everyone knows this place is an obvious front,' I go. 'You're laundering the moo you stashed in Andorra.' That softens his cough."
"Because this was blameless Mike's third such 'surprise', Justice Carmel Healy decided she'd soften his cough by sticking him inside for a few months."
"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 just soften her cough a bit."
"His father has mellowed, too; a bad hip has softened his cough."

Inflected Forms

softens someone's cough (present, singular) softening someone's cough (participle, present) softened someone's cough (participle, past) softened someone's cough (past)

Questions

What does soften someone's cough mean?: To completely negate or undermine someone's argument or position on a topic.

How to pronounce soften someone's cough

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