desensitize

Related to desensitize: desensitisation

desensitize (someone or something) to (something)

To lessen the effect that something has on someone or something. People blame video games for desensitizing kids to violence. This special toothpaste should desensitize to your teeth to cold beverages.
See also: desensitize
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

desensitize someone to something

to make someone less sensitive to something. The doctor wanted to desensitize the allergic child to pollen. I took injections to desensitize me to house dust.
See also: desensitize
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • (someone or something) promises well
  • a/the feel of (something)
  • (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
  • (have) got something going (with someone)
  • a straw will show which way the wind blows
  • accompanied by
  • accompanied by (someone or something)
  • accompany
  • a crack at (someone or something)
  • all right
References in periodicals archive
The good news was that we were able to desensitize the item.
For nearly a year, the clinic has been using virtual reality to desensitize patients to their fears and anxieties.
For most of the past year, the university's main teaching hospital has been using an advanced virtual reality program to help desensitize patients to experiences that provoke fear and anxiety.
For example, studies in rodents and a few people in the 1980s and 1990s suggested that insulin, given before diabetes developed, might desensitize the immune system to the hormone and the beta cells that make it--and thus protect the pancreas.
During the early 1990s, many soldiers reported that efforts were being made during escape and evasion training to desensitize them to the idea of female soldiers being held captive.
The "climax control" condoms contain Benzocaine, a mild anesthetic, to desensitize the penis and delay the man's climax.
Capsaicin is thought to desensitize gastric nociceptive C fibers, which carry pain sensations to the central nervous system.
BEE POLLEN: Many people report that their allergies improve when they take local bee pollen or honey to desensitize themselves.
Because bruise and hollow heart look similar to peel, processors have usually had to desensitize their automatic vision systems or have had to revert to manual inspection when running peel-on product.