butter up
B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To say very nice things to someone because you want them to do something for you.
Literal meaning: To spread butter on someone — making them smooth and easy to handle, like spreading butter on bread.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To praise or flatter someone excessively in order to gain their favour or persuade them to do something.
"He spent the whole morning buttering up his manager before asking for an extra week of holiday."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Always implies an ulterior motive — you butter someone up because you want a favour, a good grade, or special treatment. Slightly humorous in tone. Very widely understood across all varieties of English.
Commonly used with
boss teacher parent compliment praise favour
Forms
Base
butter up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
butters up
he/she/it
Past simple
buttered up
yesterday
Past participle
buttered up
have + pp
-ing form
buttering up
continuous
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Synonyms
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