smooth over

Smooth over with a knife dipped in hot water, and score with a knife.

You may call him a liar, and smooth over the incident by the same means.

In other words, he was going to try and smooth over his despicable behaviour.

They abound in choice phrases and so are in effect content to smooth over the commonplace with a not indecorous make-up.

Each day brought some new ruffle that required all her wit to smooth over.

These know how to smooth over the difficulties of an affair, and to find the means of eluding custom by some indirect advantage.

Mrs. Dean was too high-principled a woman to attempt to smooth over her own childs offences.

Spread it smooth over the whole pan, put on a cover that you've heated, and let the cake cook four minutes.

Mr. King had rather, at any time, smooth over a quarrel, than increase the exasperation by dealing sternly with its causes.

They tried to smooth over the situation, but I would listen to none of them, and Johnson at last drove on.