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Glite Dictionary
soft pedal

soft pedal

6.3
A foot control on a piano that makes the sound softer
  • noun
  • /sɔft ˈpɛdəl/
translation icon : pedal suave
  • He pressed the soft pedal to mellow the tone of the music.

Examples

  • The grand piano's soft pedal can create a more intimate sound in the room.

  • Most pianists use the soft pedal when playing gentle passages.

  • He pressed the soft pedal gently.

  • The soft pedal creates a beautiful sound.

  • During the performance, she pressed the soft pedal to create a gentle, soothing sound.

  • He learned to use the soft pedal to make the music sound more delicate.

  • To achieve a quieter tone, the pianist skillfully utilized the soft pedal throughout the piece.

Antonyms

loud pedal
  • Specialized
7.1

The pedal on the right of a piano that makes notes keep sounding longer

Surface Forms

soft pedal singular
soft pedals plural

Morphology

soft + pedal

The meaning 'a pedal on a piano that makes the sound softer' is directly and transparently derived from 'soft' (subdued in sound) plus 'pedal' (a foot-operated control). This is a literal, instrument-based composition common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Soft pedal comes from the piano. When you press the pedal, the piano's hammers move closer to the strings or hit fewer strings, so the sound becomes soft. So, soft pedal means the piano pedal used 'to make the sound softer'.