English idiom

butter someone up

Register · Informal CEFR B2

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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

To reveal a secret, usually by mistake.

pull someone's leg

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

spill the beans

To reveal a secret, often accidentally.

behind the scenes

happening privately or secretly, not in public view

catch someone red-handed

to catch someone in the very act of doing something wrong

come to light

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.

External links

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