downshift

Definition

To shift a transmission into a lower gear, slow down your life, or make something less controversial—because sometimes you need to pump the brakes on drama and RPMs alike. In corporate speak, it means toning down a risky proposal before someone in legal loses their mind. Outside the office, it's how you avoid burning out your clutch or your career.

Example Usage

After the CEO's reaction to the merger pitch, we had to downshift our proposal to something that wouldn't trigger an aneurysm in the board room.

Source: Wiktionary via Free Dictionary API

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