butter sb up

Are you using the idiom butter sb up but not sure about its meaning? Using idioms, which are important elements of spoken and written language, in the right place strengthens your language skills. Examine the meaning of the butter sb up idiom and the situations in which it is used.

Meaning of "butter sb up"

Meaning

The phrase ‘butter someone up’ is an idiom with a figurative meaning, which is to flatter someone in order to gain their favour. It is an attempt to persuade or influence an individual’s opinion or behaviour. A person who ‘butters someone up’ may employ tactics such as compliments, gifts, or other shows of kindness, with the goal of getting a desired result.

Etymology

The origin of this idiom is attributed to ancient Greece and Rome, where guests would bring bread and olive oil to the homes of their hosts as a sign of hospitality and friendship. This gesture would often be reciprocated by the hosts offering the visitors a generous pouring of butter as a gesture of hospitality. Secondly, a link can also be drawn to the tradition of ‘greasing the gears’ which was used to describe the act of bribery. This expression dates back to the early 20th century, where bribe money was literally referred to as ‘grease’ and used to ‘grease the wheels’ of a situation, in order to make them turn easier. Finally, the phrase ‘buttering up’ may have a similarity to the phrase ‘buttering someone’s bread’ which originates from the Midlands of England and is used to describe someone envying another’s success.

Usage

This expression is typically used as a warning in a situation where someone is trying to use flattery to gain favour. It could be used in a humorous way to describe one’s own attempts at making a good impression, or in a more serious way to describe the actions of someone who is trying to manipulate another. It can also be used to refer to someone who is over-doing the act of flattery, to the point where it can become insincere and obvious.

Example Sentences

• He was buttering her up with compliments all night so that she would agree to go out with him.
• Stop trying to butter me up - I’m already convinced.
• He was buttering up the boss in the hope that he would be given a promotion.

The Global Spread of English Idioms

As English has become a global language, its idioms have spread far beyond the borders of the UK and USA. For instance, the idiom "beat around the bush" has equivalents in many other languages, such as "tourner autour du pot" in French and "dar vueltas al asunto" in Spanish. Meanwhile, other idioms have been adapted for local contexts, such as the Russian idiom "?? ???? ???????" (ne svoya rubashka), which translates to "not one's own shirt," meaning to be in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.