temper with

temper (something) with (something)

1. To harden or strengthen some material through the application of something. The blacksmith tempers the metal with extreme heat followed by a quenching in cold water to make the blades incredibly hard. Our screen protectors are made of glass that has been tempered with a proprietary blend of chemicals.
2. To bring something to the desired physical condition by blending or admixing with something else. We temper the paint with oil to make it water resistant. The artist revealed that she tempers her clay with mica to achieve the unique sparkle in her pottery.
3. To use something make something else less intense, extreme, or severe; to moderate something with something else. We've got to temper investors' expectations with realistic projections of our growth potential. We tried to temper the news that their grandmother had passed away with a trip to an ice cream parlor.
See also: temper
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

temper something with something

 
1. Fig. to harden something, such as metal, with something. You have to temper the metal pieces with very high heat. The sheet of metal was tempered by the application of great pressure.
2. Fig. to soften the impact of something, such as news, with something. We can temper this disaster story a bit with a picture of the happy survivors. The news story was tempered with a paragraph of explanation and justification.
See also: temper
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • temper (something) with (something)
  • it's one thing to (do sth), it's another thing to (do sth else)
  • it's one thing to (do sth), it's quite another to (do sth else)
  • it's one thing to do A, it's another to do B
  • (something) is one thing, (something else) is (quite) another
  • it's one thing to (do something), it's another to (do something else)
  • extreme
  • hammer and tongs
  • hammer and tongs, go at it
  • be at it hammer and tongs
References in periodicals archive
In the past two-and-a-half years that we've been together, I have lost my temper with him on just three occasions, but he sees red over nothing and it is becoming unbearable for me.
I CAN'T DEAL WITH HIS TEMPER
In the two-and-a-half years we've been together I've lost my temper with him three times but he sees red over anything.
I can't deal with his temper any longer
SO SOMEONE trying to make some money from selling his book tells us Gordon Brown, pictured, loses his temper with some of his staff.
Most bosses lose temper! Your Shouts
Graffiti artist Temper with one of his paintings suspended from the Rubens ceiling at Whitehall
Temper's zodiac art vies with Rubens
Regionally, females in the West Midlands are ahead in the stress stakes, where 77% admitted to losing their temper with friends, family and partners and 67% said they snapped at work colleagues more often when the temperatures soared outside.
Women are feeling the heat
Liverpool crown court heard James Campbell, described as bad tempered and foul-mouthed, had lost his temper with the little boy.
Man goes to jail for attack on toddler
Liverpool Crown Court heard that James Campbell, described as bad tempered and foul mouthed, had lost his temper with the little boy.
Man gets 21 months for slapping child