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Noun: soft pedal
  1. (music) a piano pedal that reduces the volume by moving the hammers closer to the strings or shifting them sideways
    "The pianist used the soft pedal to create a more delicate tone"
Verb: soft-pedal (soft-pedalled,soft-pedalling, or [US] soft-pedaled,soft-pedaling)  ,sóft'pe-d(u)l
  1. Play down or obscure
    "His advisers soft-pedalled the president's blunder"

Derived forms: soft-pedaling, soft-pedaled, soft pedals, soft-pedals, soft-pedalling, soft-pedalled

Type of: background, downplay, foot lever, foot pedal, pedal, play down, treadle

Part of: forte-piano, piano, pianoforte

Encyclopedia: Soft pedal

Soft-pedal