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sweeten up

B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To make someone happier or more willing to say yes, often by being nice to them or adding something extra to an offer.

Literal meaning: To add sweetness to something — making it literally sweeter in taste.

Meanings

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."

Grammar: separable
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."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

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.

Commonly used with

deal offer mood pot package proposal

Forms

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

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Synonyms

butter up win over soften up improve an offer sweeten the deal make more appealing

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