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taper off

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taper off (doing something)

gradually to stop doing something; to do less and less of something until there is no more to do. Bob tried to taper off smoking again. I can't taper off overeating. I have to stop all at once by going on a strict diet.

See also: off

taper off

to gradually lessen tail off The price of gasoline should taper off in the fall. The rain will taper off by morning and the afternoon should be sunny.

See also: off

taper off

1. Become thinner or narrower at one end, as in The road began to taper off until it was just a narrow path. [c. 1600]

2. Diminish or lessen gradually, end by degrees, as in The storm finally tapered off. [Mid-1800s]

See also: off

taper off

v.

1. To narrow, diminish, or lessen gradually: The rod tapers off to a point at one end. The rain finally tapered off, and we went back outside.

2. To cause something to narrow, diminish, or lessen gradually: I tapered off the end of a stick and drove it into the ground. The doctor tapered the medication off as the patient recovered.

3. To gradually reduce someone's medication: After my symptoms disappeared, the doctor tapered me off the medication.

See also: off