buffing out

Verb

buff out (third-person singular simple present buffs out, present participle buffing out, simple past and past participle buffed out)

1. (transitive) To remove paint or light scratches from the surface by friction, wearing it out by polishing or blasting with sand or by employing some similar method.
   • Other carriers buff out their fuselages instead of painting them, reasoning that cracks can hide under layers of thick exterior paint.1992, Diana Fairechild, Jet Smart
2. (figuratively, transitive) To bring something to proper shape by removing or masking minor defects, by straightening out the residual shortcomings.
   • Nevertheless, if a man has the salesman's qualifications, a little scientific study of salesmanship will sandpaper him, buff out his inequalities and make him a better man.1914, Fra Magazine, volume Fra Magazine: A Journal of Affirmation, January 1914 to June 1914, page 178