sweet talk

¹

noun

Informal.

1. cajolery; soft soap.

sweet-talk

²

[sweet-tawk]

verb (used without object)

1. to use cajoling words.

verb (used with object)

1. to use cajoling words on in order to persuade; soft-soap.

   They tried to sweet-talk the boss into giving them raises.

sweet-talk

verb

1. to coax, flatter, or cajole (someone)

noun

1. cajolery; coaxing

Word History and Origins

Origin of sweet talk¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Origin of sweet talk²

First recorded in 1925–30

Idioms and Phrases

Flattery, cajolery, as in She uses sweet talk to get her way. [First half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

Their version of sweet talk is Ivy chirping, “Never leave me — but when you do, kill me on the way out.”

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a central theme in my book to help clarify that no amount of sweet talk can replace the inevitable loss, the inherent loss, that is adoption.

From Seattle Times

We jump from screaming to sweet talk, and from current subplot to the far past to a few days ago.

From Salon

Realtor Liz Jones said some agents continue to encourage the practice, putting buyers in a tough position if they’d rather leave out the sweet talk.

From Seattle Times

He sweet talks our darker impulses in a way that makes his murders justifiable, understandable even, although we – and he – know his compulsions are immoral.

From Salon