The expression TO CUSHION THE BLOW means to decrease the strength of the impact of sth:
He failed again but the thought that most of his friends also failed cushioned the blow.
The government cut the taxes to cushion the blow of soaring food prices.
The company had not enough savings to cushion the blow of reduced revenues.
Do you think it will help cushion the blow if we buy our boss a present before we talk to him?
She broke up with me but offered to be friends – like this was supposed to cushion the blow.
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