butter someone up

Register · Informal Informal — used in casual, everyday conversation among friends and family. Avoid in formal writing or professional settings. CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to flatter someone in order to gain a favour

Why this phrase?

Spreading butter makes dry bread go down more smoothly; flattery is pictured as making a person easier to 'swallow' a request.

Example

“He's been buttering up his boss all week to get the promotion.”

Dictionary details

Component words

butter

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

let the cat out of the bag Informal · CEFR B1

To reveal a secret, usually by mistake.

pull someone's leg Informal · CEFR B1

To tease or joke with someone by telling them something untrue in fun.

spill the beans Informal · CEFR B1

To reveal a secret, often accidentally.

behind the scenes Neutral · CEFR B2

happening privately or secretly, not in public view

catch someone red-handed Neutral · CEFR B2

to catch someone in the very act of doing something wrong

come to light Neutral · CEFR B2

to become known or be discovered, especially something hidden

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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