Subsequent discussions, however, have shattered the administration's optimism, and it has since tried to lower expectations.

Was she just trying to lower expectations, or were the prospects really as bleak as her choice of words made them sound?

As a result of all these problems, American officials have for months tried to lower expectations.

The new mayor tried to lower expectations by stressing that financial resources were scarce.

Sounds like you were trying your very best to lower expectations.

Not bad, except that Kerry's campaign had spent the week trying to lower expectations on the debate front.

As the campaign has consciously tried to lower expectations, the candidate sometimes has trouble going along.

But he tried yesterday to lower expectations, warning that five weeks of summer school is hardly a cure-all for students who are behind.

And it has not stopped campaigns from trying to lower expectations about how much they will raise.

Some creditors hold out hope that Enron is merely trying to lower expectations with its estimates of the book's value.