ENGLISH
REFERENCE

taper off

idiom
Meaning

To diminish or lessen gradually; to become or make smaller, slower, quieter, etc.


Origin

disputed origin

From taper and off.

Examples
SIMPLE

The rain started to taper off in the afternoon.

CONTEXTUAL

The doctor told me to taper off my medication slowly rather than stopping it all at once.

COMPLEX

As the excitement of the festival began to taper off, the crowd slowly drifted away into the quiet night.

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