VOOZH about

URL: https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/defuse.3773610/

⇱ Defuse | WordReference Forums

Menu
Install the app
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.

Defuse

Oswinw011

Senior Member
Chinese
Defuse: make (something) less serious, difficult, or tense.
Example: Skilled negotiators helped defuse the crisis/situation.

Hi,
Can I "defuse" an angry person to make him calm down? Thanks.
That seems like a stretch, Oswin. I think that you would do better to content yourself with defusing volatile situations.
Can I "defuse" an angry person to make him calm down?
You can't defuse a person. As post #2 says, you defuse a situation.

You might say that you defused the anger (not the angry person). That could be a situation: this person is so angry that he might become violent.
You can't defuse a person. As post #2 says, you defuse a situation.

You might say that you defused the anger (not the angry person). That could be a situation: this person is so angry that he might become violent.
How about "defused the anger of a lady, who complained loudly at Mc Donald due to the unsatisfactory big mac"?
Back
Top Bottom