Sentence examples for diminish expectation from inspiring English sources

He would do well to play down his initial chances and diminish expectation levels for instant success.

Already, his campaign is trying to diminish expectations for Mr. Obama's performance.

Ryan refused to diminish expectations or acknowledge the doubts raised because this is his first job as a head coach.

Like a new basketball coach inheriting a championship franchise that has struggled in recent seasons, Ms. Naegle sought to diminish expectations for herself, at least early on.

This didn't so much diminish expectations as heighten desperation among the passengers who, bearing cameras and binoculars, craved any kind of sighting.

"Secret" said the head coach in a playful way that will do nothing to diminish expectations before Wales travel to meet a reinvigorated Ireland.

Yet the inevitable warm fuzziness doesn't terribly undercut all the nasty pleasures previously provided, nor diminish expectations for the next bit of mischief.

An earlier plan unveiled in November 2005 had been titled "Strategy for Victory in Iraq," but Mr. Bush used the word "victory" sparingly on Wednesday night, and then only to diminish expectations.

The $170 million goal, which strategists in each party assume is a low-ball figure intended to diminish expectations, is simply a rough estimate of how Mr. Bush's popularity will translate into financial support under a new campaign finance law that doubles the maximum individual contribution to a campaign to $2,000, Mr. Reynolds said.

Though crocodile tears may be shed all around, the extent of disappointment needs to be calibrated: Pascal Lamy, the head of the World Trade Organization, had long worked to diminish expectations, so much so that it was clear that whatever emerged would bring, at most, limited benefits to poor countries.

And his campaign worked to diminish expectations in the day or two before the voting — a practice that can annoy voters who are undecided in the race if they feel as if they are being told their vote doesn't matter.