English Reference
Idiom idiom

tamp down


To suppress or reduce (something, usually an emotion or thought).

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

“You should try to tamp down your anger before you speak.”

CONTEXTUAL

“She tried to tamp down her excitement during the meeting to remain professional.”

COMPLEX

“Despite the mounting pressure, he managed to tamp down his growing anxiety and deliver a calm, measured response to the board.”


Last updated August 10, 2026