butter up
Upper Intermediate (B2) informal
To say very nice things to someone because you want them to do something for you.
"He spent the whole morning buttering up his manager before asking for an extra week of holiday."
Hear it in context
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Adam’s English Lessons · engVid · 0:55
So, you would "butter up your boss", you would "butter up your teacher",
10 English Idioms with Meanings You CAN’T Guess
Adam’s English Lessons · engVid · 0:58
you would "butter up a co-worker"; and then,
Pete Responds to Breaking Inflation News, Live on Squawk Box
Pete Buttigieg · 4:24
His [clears throat] job is to butter up the president.
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ClipZone: Sitcoms · 28:17
So, butter up and I'll see you Christmas morning.
$1 vs $1,000 Indian Restaurant In UK
Deji · 18:39
They warm the butter up and just poured it on top.