1.   Colonel Goreng broke the news to me, making no effort to cushion the blow.

2.   Even where price increases have taken place, retailers with good stocks May be able to cushion the blow for a while.

3.   The thick, air-filled bone of the skull helps to cushion the blow.

4.   There was no way to cushion the blow.

5.   They said Western aid was needed to cushion the blows of vital reform.

6.   The tax cut is meant to cushion the blow of soaring gas prices.

7.   To cushion the blow, wages and pensions were increased.

8.   Many firms, it says, cushion the blow with new bonus schemes or lump sum payments.