“Butter someone up”

Definition

To praise someone too much in order to get something.

Examples

Examples

“He tried to butter up the teacher before the exam.”

Sunny Speaking
Practice speaking with AI feedback.
Answer out loud or type — Sunny corrects your mistakes and suggests more natural English.
Start speaking

Related Idioms

Explore similar idioms and phrases. Click any card to read the full meaning and examples.

Frequently asked questions

What does "Butter someone up" mean?
"Butter someone up" means to praise someone too much in order to get something..
How do you use "Butter someone up" in a sentence?
Example: "He tried to butter up the teacher before the exam."
What is the Russian or Armenian translation of "Butter someone up"?
Льстить кому-то, чтобы получить желаемое. / Չափից շատ գովել մեկին՝ ինչ-որ բան ստանալու համար։
Is this idiom formal or informal?
This idiom is neutral and can be used in most contexts.

Related lessons

Dive deeper with another lesson that reinforces this grammar point.

Keep learning