1 B2 idiomatic informal
To make a person more cooperative, receptive, or happy, often through kindness, gifts, or flattery.
"He bought her flowers and cooked dinner to sweeten her up before asking to borrow money."
separable
sweeten up
B2 informal separable transitive
To make a person more willing, happy, or cooperative, often by being kind or offering something attractive; also to make an offer or deal more appealing.
In plain English
To make someone happier or more willing to say yes, often by being nice to them or adding something extra to an offer.
What does "sweeten up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To make an offer, deal, or proposal more attractive by adding extra benefits or concessions.
"The company sweetened up their offer with an extra week of holiday to secure the candidate."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To add sweetness to something — making it literally sweeter in taste.
Actually means
To make someone happier or more willing to say yes, often by being nice to them or adding something extra to an offer.
Usage tip
Commonly used in business negotiations (sweetening a deal) and interpersonal contexts (sweetening someone's mood). The idea of literal sweetening — making something taste sweeter — also exists but is less idiomatic.
Words that pair with "sweeten up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
deal offer mood pot package proposal
How to conjugate "sweeten up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sweeten up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sweetens up
he/she/it
Past simple
sweetened up
yesterday
Past participle
sweetened up
have + pp
-ing form
sweetening up
continuous
Hear "sweeten up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "sweeten up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "sweeten up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.