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What does “butter someone up” mean?

Meaning, example sentence and a quick practice question.

C1

To flatter someone, usually because you want something from them

“He's been buttering up the boss all week before asking for a raise.”

Say it smoothly: “butter-im-up”

From the C1 lesson What's Cooking? (food idioms).

Quick check

What does “butter someone up” mean?

Teaching this phrase?“butter someone up” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks C1 Pack 3 (Money, Food, Work and Travel).
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