butter up

verb

buttered up; buttering up; butters up
Synonyms of butter upnext

transitive verb

: to charm or beguile with lavish flattery or praise

Synonyms

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Examples of butter up in a Sentence

a flunky who shamelessly butters up the boss
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In contrast, Tai — who eventually becomes a powerful lawyer as an adult — often relies on buttering up her witnesses and using courtroom theatrics to get her point across. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025 Zelensky isn’t alone among prominent Ukrainians in trying to butter up Trump. — Sophie Tanno, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of butter up was in 1819

Rhymes for butter up

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butter up
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Cite this Entry

“Butter up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butter%20up. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of butter up for Spanish Speakers

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