detract from

Related to detract from: trip up

detract from (someone or something)

To impact someone or something negatively; to diminish someone or something. Unfortunately, that outdated kitchen detracts from the overall value of your house. His lies detracted from his otherwise stellar record as a senator.
See also: detract
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

detract from someone or something

to lessen or diminish someone or something. The large pieces of furniture detracted from the lovely design in the carpet. Alice's quiet demeanor did not detract from her grace and beauty.
See also: detract
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

detract from

v.
To reduce a quality, importance, or some other value; diminish something: The dent on the side of the car detracts from its overall value. The politician's uneven voting record detracted from his chances of winning the election.
See also: detract
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • be/have done with somebody/something
  • be in line with (someone or something)
  • better of
  • (someone or something) promises well
  • begin with
  • begin with (someone or something)
  • bird has flown, the
  • beware of
  • beware of (someone or something)
  • be rough on (someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
Councillor Berman, who is Jewish, said: 'We should not allow what is a trivial matter to detract from the event which is about learning from the mistakes of the past.
(23) They should discuss any issues or concerns before the trial, review their testimony with the prosecutor to ensure it makes sense, and determine if anything about their appearance might detract from their testimony.
While these projects are important, they detract from the department's ability to execute its audit plan.
If only the prose flowed smoothly, all these problems would not detract from the impact the story could have.
However, these small issues in no way detract from an outstanding work of scholarship that sheds light on politics, religion, prison life, and philosophy in the late sixteenth century.
"This means your framing should complement the artwork, bring out die importance of the piece and in no way detract from the beauty it presents.
Responsibility for these issues is not part of the mission (or expertise) of a not-for-profit organization, and they can detract from the organization's ability to fulfill its real goals.
Gallay's inability to shed much light on this topic does not detract from this valuable book, which in any event was constructed as a study of how European and Indian societies rose and fell in the half-century after the arrival of white Carolinian settlers.
Unsubstantiated or incorrect examples also detract from the overall presentation of this case study.
"When I can take their direct comments back to my colleagues, it creates a sense of urgency to develop biological inputs that won't detract from, and may actually enhance, the quality and wholesomeness of meat and milk."
* As beautiful as your kitchen may be, the never-ending production and accumulation of garbage can detract from it.
A largely qualitative and feminist perspective approach unfortunately promotes a one-sided analysis, but this does not on the whole detract from the work's overall comprehensive review of welfare trends particular to women and families.
This book could be seen as a promotion piece fog his own fundraising firm but that does not detract from a penetrating analysis of what Christian stewardship means and how it has been subverted by secular fundraising techniques.
Nonetheless, this minor point does not detract from the book's substantial contribution.
Also pouting provocatively at camera and wearing sexy heels helps detract from varicose veins (OK, not really.).