cushion the blow. to do something that reduces harm. The way to cushion the blow is to raise prices slowly, not all at once. Etymology: from the idea of making the force of one ...
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/cushion+the+blow

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blow  1   (bl) v. blew (bl), blown (bl n), blow·ing, blows. v. intr. 1. To be in a state of motion. Used of the air or of wind. 2. To move along or be carried by or as if by the ...
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cushion+the+blow

To write code or data into a PROM chip by blowing the fuses of the 0 bits. The 1 bits are left alone.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/cushion+the+blow

To write code or data into a PROM chip by blowing the fuses of the 0 bits. The 1 bits are left alone.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/cushions+the+blow