cushion

Furniture and comfort

A soft, padded object used to make a seat more comfortable or decorative.

• plump up cushions (collocation): To reshape cushions so they look fuller and feel softer. She plumped up the cushions before the guests arrived.
• throw cushions (noun phrase): Small decorative cushions placed on a sofa, chair, or bed. The sofa was decorated with several colorful throw cushions.
• seat cushion (noun phrase): The padded part of a chair or seat that you sit on. The worn seat cushion needed to be replaced.
• cushion cover (noun phrase): A removable fabric case that fits around a cushion. She washed the cushion covers and left them to dry.

Protection and impact

Something that absorbs force or protects a person or object from impact.

• cushion a fall (verb phrase): To reduce the force or harm of someone falling. The deep snow helped to cushion his fall.
• cushion against impact (verb pattern): To protect something from the force of a hit or collision. The foam layer cushions the equipment against impact.
• air cushion (compound noun): A layer or pocket of air that supports something or absorbs shock. The packaging uses an air cushion to protect fragile items.
• act as a cushion (verb pattern): To provide a protective layer or buffer. The thick carpet acted as a cushion beneath the glass.

Money and security

Extra money or resources kept available to protect against financial difficulty.

• financial cushion (collocation): Money kept in reserve for emergencies or unexpected costs. A six-month emergency fund gave them a financial cushion.
• cash cushion (collocation): Cash kept readily available as a financial buffer. The business maintains a cash cushion during quiet months.
• savings cushion (collocation): Savings that provide protection when income falls or costs rise. Her savings cushion covered the unexpected repair bill.
• a cushion against rising costs (noun pattern): Protection that makes increasing expenses easier to manage. The pay increase provided a cushion against rising costs.

Softening harm or bad news

To reduce the harmful, painful, or unpleasant effect of an event or change.

• cushion the blow (idiom): To make bad news or an unpleasant event feel less severe. His savings helped to cushion the blow of losing his job.
• cushion the impact (verb phrase): To reduce the harmful effect of a change or event. The support package helped cushion the impact of higher prices.
• cushion the effect (verb phrase): To make a result or consequence less strong. Flexible deadlines cushioned the effect of the disruption.
• cushion the economy against inflation (verb pattern): To protect the economy from some of inflation’s harmful effects. The government introduced measures to cushion the economy against inflation.

Sentence frames

• a cushion against + noun: Use the noun cushion for protection from a future problem. Their savings provide a cushion against unexpected expenses.
• cushion + object + against/from + noun: Use cushion as a verb when something protects an object or group. The policy cushions households against sudden price rises.
• cushion the + blow/impact/effect: Use this frame when an action makes something unpleasant less severe. Extra support helped cushion the impact of the closure.