[] to reduce the unpleasant effects of sth 减轻令人不快的影响◆The south of the country has been cushioned from the worst effects of the recession. 国家南部保护得很好，没有受到经济衰退造成的最恶劣情况所影响。◆The government is expected to reduce taxes to cushion the blow of higher unemployment (= make the effects less bad). 预计政府将减少税收以减轻高失业率的打击。