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softly softly en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Reduplication of softly. Likely an allusion to softly, softly, catchee monkey or a similar phrase.

Meanings

1. (UK, not-comparable, qualifier:often hyphenated) Discreet, low-key, careful.
   • Second, this lack of divergence is also the outcome of the EU's softly-softly approach to human rights and democracy in Morocco. 2003, Annette Jünemann, Euro-Mediterranean relations after September 11, →ISBN:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
softly-softly		alternative	lexicographic
softly, softly		alternative	lexicographic

Synonyms

understated · diplomatic

Translations (5)

sv försiktig (discreet, careful) · fi hyvin varovainen (discreet, careful) · sv varsam (discreet, careful) · sv mjuk (discreet, careful) · fi pehmo- (discreet, careful)

softly softly en · ADV

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Reduplication of softly. Likely an allusion to softly, softly, catchee monkey or a similar phrase.

Meanings

1. (UK, not-comparable) In a very tactful, careful, or nondisruptive manner.
   • We couldn't get him back into training before Christmas time because he picked up an injury at the Cheltenham Festival last year and we had to go softly softly. 2006 April 28, “Royal heads Betfred field”, in RTE Sport, Ireland, retrieved 22 Jun 2009:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
softly, softly		alternative	lexicographic
softly-softly		alternative	lexicographic

Synonyms

gingerly

Translations (4)

sv varsamt (in a very tactful, careful manner) · sv försiktigt (in a very tactful, careful manner) · fi hyvin varovasti (in a very tactful, careful manner) · es muy suavemente (in a very tactful, careful manner)