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downplay issues

[ˈdaʊnpleɪ ˈɪʃuːz]
verb phrase
minimizar problemas
1. to treat something as being less important or serious than it actually is
The company tried to downplay issues with the product's safety.
A empresa tentou minimizar os problemas de segurança do produto.
2. to deliberately reduce the significance or severity of a problem or concern
Politicians often downplay issues that could hurt their public image.
Os políticos frequentemente minimizam problemas que poderiam prejudicar sua imagem pública.
NYC Slang
play it down, make it seem like no big deal
Synonyms
minimizeunderstatediminishbelittlegloss overmake light ofbrush aside
Antonyms
exaggerateemphasizehighlightmagnifyoverstatestress

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
minimizar problemas
Most common and widely understood
Rio de Janeiro
passar a mão
Colloquial expression meaning to brush off or downplay
São Paulo
subestimar problemas
More formal business context
Portugal
minimizar problemas
Standard Portuguese usage

Related Idioms & Phrases

brush it under the rug
make a mountain out of a molehill (opposite)
water down
soft-pedal
play down the severity
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