softly softly

See also: softly, softly and softly-softly

English

WOTD – 6 May 2012

Alternative forms

Etymology

Reduplication of softly. Likely an allusion to softly, softly, catchee monkey or a similar phrase.[1]

Pronunciation

Audio (AU) (file)

Adjective

softly softly (not comparable)

(UK, often hyphenated) Discreet, low-key, careful.
- 2003, Annette Jünemann, Euro-Mediterranean relations after September 11, →ISBN:
  Second, this lack of divergence is also the outcome of the EU's softly-softly approach to human rights and democracy in Morocco.

Synonyms

diplomatic, understated

Translations

discreet, careful

Finnish: pehmo- (fi), hyvin varovainen
Swedish: varsam (sv), försiktig (sv), mjuk (sv)

Adverb

softly softly (not comparable)

(UK) In a very tactful, careful, or nondisruptive manner.
- 2006 April 28, “Royal heads Betfred field”, in RTE Sport, Ireland, retrieved 22 June 2009:
  We couldn't get him back into training before Christmas time because he picked up an injury at the Cheltenham Festival last year and we had to go softly softly.

Synonyms

gingerly

Translations

in a very tactful, careful manner

Finnish: hyvin varovasti
Spanish: muy suavemente
Swedish: varsamt (sv), försiktigt (sv)

References

“softly, adv.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, December 2016.

“softly softly”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

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