water down

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“It’s like the restaurant that starts to water down the soup,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Both Berlin and Italy also helped pressure the EU to water down its 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars -- a decision again opposed, unsuccessfully, by France.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

In response, Sir Keir said he is determined not to "water down" the legislation and argued that the amendments tabled by the government would "strengthen" it.

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2026

Once you’re above the residential lots, you’ll see pipes along the way, carrying water down the hill, along with occasional trailside poison oak.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2026

Quickly, the face of her sister fell away like water down a slanted roof.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez