red-hot

前回と同じ記事から取り上げます。
With Snowden in Middle, U.S. and Russia Joust, and Cool Off

But while American officials remained angry at China for letting Mr. Snowden fly to Moscow, they and their Russian counterparts toned down the red-hot language that threatened a deeper rupture in relations. Mr. Putin said he saw little to gain in the conflict. “It’s like shearing a piglet,” he said. “There’s a lot of squealing and very little wool.” Some American officials interpreted the comment as a positive signal and speculated that Mr. Snowden would be sent to another country that could turn him over.

注目するのは、red-hotです。以前にも取り上げられていますので、今回は復習です。red-hot #2 - 田邉祐司ゼミ 常時英心：言葉の森から

意味は「激怒した、猛烈な」となります。（『ジーニアス英和辞典』第四版、大修館）「音色をやわらげる」から来ているtone-downがあるので、「激怒した言葉を和らげる」と解釈しました。（Sugar）

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/world/snowden.html?hp&_r=0