as in to honey
to praise too much
a flunky who shamelessly butters up the boss
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Recent Examples of butter up
Zelensky isn’t alone among prominent Ukrainians in trying to butter up Trump.
—
Sophie Tanno, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
Warming the milk and butter up first helps to avoid any milk fat white spots on top of your decadent chocolate cake.
—Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2024
Griffin isn’t the only big-name boss to try and butter up workers by putting on an unforgettable party.
—Byorianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023
Ripple’s ongoing efforts to butter up the banking and corporate world have made the company, and by extension XRP, an object of hostility and derision among the rest of the crypto world.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 24 Mar. 2023
Next, coat the bottom of a casserole dish with butter, place the potatoes in, and pat more butter up on top.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE.com, 23 Nov. 2021
At the center: six cinnamon rolls that a candidate alleged had been used to butter up voters during the tight mayoral race in October.
—María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2023
Steele storms out, but Sarah stays behind to butter up the AG.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 21 Nov. 2022
But why was butter up 6% in March, while milk rose only 1.3%?
—Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN, 13 Apr. 2022
Sophie Tanno, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
Warming the milk and butter up first helps to avoid any milk fat white spots on top of your decadent chocolate cake.
—Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2024
Griffin isn’t the only big-name boss to try and butter up workers by putting on an unforgettable party.
—Byorianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023
Ripple’s ongoing efforts to butter up the banking and corporate world have made the company, and by extension XRP, an object of hostility and derision among the rest of the crypto world.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 24 Mar. 2023
Next, coat the bottom of a casserole dish with butter, place the potatoes in, and pat more butter up on top.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE.com, 23 Nov. 2021
At the center: six cinnamon rolls that a candidate alleged had been used to butter up voters during the tight mayoral race in October.
—María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2023
Steele storms out, but Sarah stays behind to butter up the AG.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 21 Nov. 2022
But why was butter up 6% in March, while milk rose only 1.3%?
—Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN, 13 Apr. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butter up
Verb
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Those harmonies — simultaneously honeyed and gravelly, providing just enough support without overshadowing, yet so powerful and full of potential — echoes Whitten.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
2 July 2024
-
Enjoy flavored nuts, such as those that are candied, glazed, or honied, in moderation.—
Selene Yeager,
Health,
24 Feb. 2024
Verb
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From one Canadian to another, and one 6-foot-6, 220-pound statue to another, Pronger congratulated Parayko on his gold medal at the 4 Nations Face-Off.—
Jeremy Rutherford,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
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Jonathan Van Ness made one lucky fan smile after congratulating her on her engagement to her girlfriend after her parents didn't.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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So, instead, Clinton watches Nazareth stroke a shot into the top right corner and ultimately earn Portugal a 1-1 draw in Friday’s opening Nations League match against England with 15 minutes of regular time remaining.—
Megan Feringa,
The Athletic,
22 Feb. 2025
-
In a clip viewed over 22 million times, Aj reaches a hand over and strokes her cat's back.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Medieval cooks molded pork meatloaf to look like pea pods and massaged sweet almond paste into hedgehogs.—
Molly Young,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
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Trump’s world is one where off-the-cuff statements can be massaged, and his telegenic cabinet overturn the paradigms of global security hourly, without major consequence.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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For all of the conversation late last year analyzing how quickly Sporting KC might be able to shuffle the chairs — or even Vermes praising the way his team played Wednesday — a swap at striker, a swap in the mentality at striker, transcends everything else.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2025
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The Trump administration has praised Musk's effort, and indicated far more is on the way.—
Andre Tartar Bloomberg News (TNS),
arkansasonline.com,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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This is the other cost-cutting tip – there were only two – that consumers applauded, on balance, in the Wells Fargo survey.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
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Pritzker applauded Illinois student test scores in reading and math.—
Willie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Kevin Durant would commend Edwards’ confidence, as did Obama, clearly impressed with the rising superstar’s competitive demeanor and personality.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
19 Feb. 2025
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Former President Muhammadu Buhari commended the UAE partners for their confidence in Nigeria, marked by their substantial $18.5 billion investment in the project.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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There are many ways to flatter your natural curves that do not involve a body-con dress.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2025
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Alexander wanted to meet her and she was flattered.—
Ana Claudia Chacin and,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to butter up
Cite this Entry
“Butter up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butter%20up. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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