soften the blow
also cushion the blow to make a difficult experience less unpleasant Special relief funds have been set aside to soften the blow to families that lost someone in the disaster.
soften the blow
to make something unpleasant easier to accept Although tuition rates are going up, more scholarships will be available to soften the blow. Not only were they losing their jobs, but they could not count on any financial cushion to soften the blow.