butter someone up

1. To praise or flatter someone excessively: “Percy was always buttering up the boss, so he was surprised when he failed to get a promotion.”

Example Sentences

After defeat by Palace on Sunday Lampard criticised his players, saying: "There is only so much you can keep trying to butter someone up to give them confidence."

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"There is only so much you can keep trying to butter someone up to give them confidence," manager Lampard said.

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