butter up
Third Person
butters up
Present Participle
buttering up
Past Tense
buttered up
Past Participle
buttered up
1
to compliment someone to gain something in return
- The salesman was skilled at buttering up customers to make more sales.
- Instead of buttering up the professor, focus on studying for the exam.
- He tried buttering up his friend with compliments to borrow his car.
- The employee was always buttering up the manager to get favorable assignments.
- She tried to butter the boss up by praising his leadership skills.
Synonyms: