0 to make something seem less important or less bad than it really is: --
Military spokespeople tried to play down the seriousness of the disaster.
1 to say that something is not important, especially because you do not want it to be known publicly: --
Insiders are playing the matter down, stressing the investigation is industry-wide and not specific to their own investment bank.
We can complete it step by step however long the road is and it can't be completed however short the road is if you don't even mark your footprint.
We kunnen het stap voor stap voltooien, hoe lang de weg ook is en het kan niet worden voltooid, hoe kort de weg ook is, als je niet eens je voetafdruk markeert.