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butter up

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌbʌtɚ ˈʌp/ · UK /ˌbʌtər ˈʌp/

butter up means: To praise someone because you want them to do something for you.

verb

PRAISE FOR FAVOURSB2

To praise someone because you want them to do something for you.

  • Stop trying to butter me up.
  • She buttered up the boss before asking for a day off.
  • Are you buttering me up because you want a favour?

How to use it: butter someone up (He buttered her up before asking to borrow her car.)

Similar words: flatter, sweet-talk

Common phrases: butter up someone, butter up the boss, butter someone up

phrase

PRAISE FOR FAVOURSB2

To say nice things to someone so that they will give you something or help you.

  • You don't need to butter me up.
  • He buttered up his teacher before requesting more time.
  • Why are you buttering her up all of a sudden?

How to use it: butter someone up (She buttered me up before asking for help.)

Similar words: flatter, sweet-talk

Common phrases: butter up someone, butter up the boss, butter someone up

Questions about butter up

What does butter up mean?

To praise someone because you want them to do something for you.

What is butter up in other languages?

Türkçe: yağ çekmek · Español: hacer la pelota · Français: passer de la pommade · Deutsch: schmeicheln · Italiano: lisciare · 日本語: おだてる

How do you pronounce butter up?

In American English /ˌbʌtɚ ˈʌp/; in British English /ˌbʌtər ˈʌp/.

How do you use butter up in a sentence?

Stop trying to butter me up. She buttered up the boss before asking for a day off.

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butter up in other languages

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