butter someone up

Значение

to be very nice to someone so that they will help you

Льстить кому-то ради своей выгоды.

Примеры

1. 1Leo is buttering Mum up because he wants a lift to the party on Saturday.
2. 2Don't try to butter me up — the answer is still no.
3. 3Tom brought the boss coffee and praised her ideas; he was clearly buttering her up before asking for Friday off.
4. 4If we butter Gran up with flowers, maybe she'll let us stay up late.
5. 5My sister buttered me up all week, then asked to borrow my new jacket.

Грамматика

someone стоит между butter и up: butter her up, butter Mum up. butter меняется: butters, buttered, buttering.