smooth over(Alexander Demidov); level out(level off/out: 1. to stop rising or falling and remain horizontal The plane levelled off at 1 500 feet. After the long hill, the road levelled out. 2. to stay at a steady level of development or progress after a period of sharp rises or falls Sales have levelled off after a period of rapid growth. OALD Alexander Demidov); level off(Alexander Demidov); drop from the equation(to happen eventually though it's taken a long time, just about as long as it's taken for the annulised figures to finally drop from the equation. Alexander Demidov); drop out of the equation(more hits. ... we can trust that all troublesome distinctiveness will cheerfully drop out of the equation. | If the other outcomes are irrelevant, then they drop out of the equation. | So, do you think fear does ever completely drop out of the equation? Alexander Demidov); cancel out(if two or more things cancel out or one cancels out the other, they are equally important but have an opposite effect on a situation so that the situation does not change Recent losses have cancelled out any profits made at the start of the year. The advantages and disadvantages would appear to cancel each other out. OALD Alexander Demidov); contour; smooth(over); survey; come to naught(dzingu)