1
general::
Phrase(s): temper something with something
1. Fig. to harden something, such as metal, with something. • You have to temper the metal pieces with very high heat. • The sheet of metal was tempered by the application of great pressure. 2. Fig. to soften the impact of something, such as news, with something. • We can temper this disaster story a bit with a picture of the happy survivors. • The news story was tempered with a paragraph of explanation and justification.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs