butter up

British  

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to flatter

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butter up Idioms  

1. Excessively praise or flatter someone, usually to gain a favor. For example, If you butter up Dad, he'll let you borrow the car. This term transfers the oily, unctuous quality of butter to lavish praise. [c. 1700]

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Example Sentences

A UK attempt to butter up the French leader, perhaps?

From BBC

Almost every coach or general manager butters up the people who are signing his paychecks.

From Los Angeles Times

At the center: six cinnamon rolls that a candidate alleged had been used to butter up voters during the tight mayoral race in October.

From Washington Post

The dinner service for the banquet dates back to George IV - and the motives, buttering up visiting dignitaries, are even older.

From BBC

“That, my boy, is the front-page article for tomorrow’s paper. Or at least it will be if I can butter up the head editor.”

From Literature