Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

butter up

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.40 in modern English

Syllables: but-ter up
IPA

12

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To flatter, especially with the intent of personal gain.

Informal; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"He takes every opportunity to butter up the boss."
"I'm not a cobb of corn, so you can stop butterin' me up. I don't need you to tell me how good my coffee is."
"Do you mind if I butter you up a little before I answer that question?"
"Joe Hart finished the night without a single grass stain on his kit and it was just a surprise the team did not butter up their goal difference even more once Welbeck had clipped in Lambert's through-ball five minutes into the second half."

Etymology

Compare typologically Russian ума́сливать (umáslivatʹ) (< ма́сло (máslo)).

Usage

Inflected Forms

butters up (present, singular) buttering up (participle, present) buttered up (participle, past) buttered up (past)

Synonyms

kiss up suck up toady blandander blandish butter up cajole sweeten fast-talk canoodle carny coax

Questions

What does butter up mean?: To flatter, especially with the intent of personal gain.
Where does butter up come from?: Compare typologically Russian ума́сливать (umáslivatʹ) (< ма́сло (máslo)).

How to pronounce butter up

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