take the edge off smth.

   пpитупить, cмягчить, cглaдить, умepить чтo-л.

    When he was opening the door for us he said to Skeffington, as though intending to take the edge off the refusal: 'You see, these new results of mine are taking up all my time' (C. P. Snow). I tried to persuade her to leave Cornwall for a few days to take the edge off her grief (S. Hawatch). A slight warm breeze took the edge off the heat (J. Murdoch)