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Glite Dictionary
to soft-soap

to soft-soap

1 7.7
To try to persuade someone by giving false praise
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈsɔftˌsoʊp/
  • Informal
translation icon : halagar
  • We're done soft-soaping.

Examples

  • Don't soft-soap your way into my good graces; just be honest.

  • He now detours to the kitchen to see if he can soft-soap one of us into opening a can of Turkey and Giblets Dinner, or Ocean Whitefish with Sauce, or Chicken & Tuna in Gravy, or whatever.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • He tried to soft-soap the manager into giving him an extra day off.

  • I could tell he was just trying to soft-soap me to get a favor.

Synonyms

to flatter
vsto soft-soap
100 3.6

Praise someone with words you do not mean to get their help

relies specifically on insincere praise to influence rather than direct appeal
to entice
vsto soft-soap
61 4.9

To persuade someone to do something by offering something they want

instead focuses on flattering words rather than offering appealing incentives
to coax
vsto soft-soap
54 4.1

To gently persuade someone by being kind and patient

differs by using insincere praise as the main tool rather than kindness
to sweet-talk
vsto soft-soap
  • Informal
23 5.3

To persuade someone by saying nice things to them

uses flattering, insincere words specifically to try to persuade
to cajole
vsto soft-soap
15 7.7

To persuade someone to do something by gentle talk and praise

leans more on insincere praise rather than patient urging or kindness
to butter up
vsto soft-soap
  • Informal
13 4.2

Say nice things to someone to get what you want

uses flattering words insincerely to persuade rather than by honest request
to curry favor
vsto soft-soap
  • US
10 7.4

To try to get someone to like you by praising them or being too helpful

targets persuasion mainly through insincere praise rather than genuine help
to puff
vsto soft-soap
  • Literature
7 7.4

To praise something too much to make people want to buy it

uses praise to influence people about opinions rather than merely promote
to toady
vsto soft-soap
1 9.1

Flatter and obey someone in power to get their favor

relies on flattering persuasion rather than direct, sincere communication
to prepossess
vsto soft-soap
1 9.9

To influence someone beforehand so they have a positive opinion

does this specifically by insincere praise rather than neutral impression
to court favor
vsto soft-soap
1 6.8

To try to get someone's approval by praising them a lot

focuses on influencing through insincere praise rather than by duty or role
to bootlick
vsto soft-soap
  • Offensive
1 8.7

To praise or obey someone in power to get their support

uses flattering behaviour specifically to persuade rather than honest argument
to beslaver
vsto soft-soap
  • Archaic
9.9

To praise someone in a way that is not sincere to get a favor

uses that kind of insincere praise specifically to persuade someone
to blandish
vsto soft-soap
9.9

To persuade someone using gentle or false praise

focuses more on insincere praise as the main persuasive method
to pour honey in someone's ear
vsto soft-soap
  • Informal
9.9

Say nice words you do not mean to get something from someone

depends on insincere praise to influence rather than honest speech
to engle
vsto soft-soap
  • Archaic
9.9

To gently persuade someone by praise or charm

serves the same persuasive flattery but with modern insincere praise focus

Antonyms

to criticize
701 3.3

To say what is wrong with someone or something

to speak openly
7 3.4

Talk honestly without hiding facts or feelings

How Manipulative

to butter up
  • Informal
13 4.2
to soft-soap
  • Informal
1 7.7
to coax
54 4.1
to persuade
472 2.7

Surface Forms

soft-soap infinitive
soft-soaped past
soft-soaped past participle
soft-soaping present participle
soft-soaps third person singular

Morphology

soft-soap = soft + soap (semi-transparent) = soft + soap

The parts 'soft' and 'soap' are recognisable, but the idiomatic meaning 'to flatter or soothe with insincere praise' is metaphorical rather than literal about soap.

Etymology

Soft-soap comes from the two simple words soft and soap, giving the image of gently washing someone to make them 'soft' and easy to handle. A helpful way to remember it is to think of using kind but 'fake' praise to 'soften' a person, which is why soft-soap means to try to persuade someone by flattery.