# dial back

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dial-back
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

To reduce the amount or intensity of something. You use this when you want to make a situation less extreme or a sound less loud.

For teachers: To reduce the intensity, degree, or scale of an activity or emotion. Transitive; frequently used in metaphorical contexts to suggest moderation or de-escalation.

## Examples

- You should dial back the volume because it is too loud.
- After the meeting became too tense, the manager asked everyone to dial back their criticism and focus on solutions.
- The administration was forced to dial back its ambitious infrastructure plans after the latest budget report revealed a significant deficit that threatened long-term fiscal stability.

## Pitfalls

- Not "We need to dial back of the spending." but "We need to dial back the spending." — The verb is transitive and does not require the preposition 'of' before the object.

## Usage notes

- This phrase is often used with abstract nouns like 'rhetoric', 'intensity', or 'expectations'.
- Teaching tip: Use the image of a volume knob or a thermostat to explain how the phrase implies a gradual reduction rather than a sudden stop.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.