smooth over

verb

1. To make (a rough surface) smooth
2. To pacify (e.g. rumours)

   “Then, as usual, the sheep broke into "Four legs good, two legs bad!" and the momentary awkwardness was smoothed over.”

   “A revolution would allow people to be who they really are: controlling their own appearance, work sexuality; their own lives. A revolution means consciously confronting the bigotry that divides us—not smoothing it over and hoping it will go away.”