flattery.

The action of flatter, v.1, in its various senses. Now rare except in gerundial use.

flattering, flattery.

Flattery, deceit; an instance of this, a flattering speech, etc. †to make glose (const. dative), to talk smoothly or flatteringly to. Now rare.

Flattery, cajolery, deceitful blandishment, specious talk or representation.

Flattery, deceit.

Blandishment, flattery.

Flattery, blandishment.

The action or practice of flattering; false or insincere praise; adulation; cajolery, blandishment.

flattery.

The action of the verb, in various senses.

a pleasant or soothing word or remark; usually in plural.

(a) adj. (of words) flattering, cajoling; (b) n. the action of flattering or cajoling someone; an act or instance of this (English regional (Yorkshire…

= flattery, n.

Blandishment.

By-form of blandishment, n.

The action of cog, v.3 Deceitful flattery; fawning.

Of actions, dispositions, feelings, etc.: showing kindness; indicating or expressive of a spirit of generosity, benevolence, or friendship…

figurative. In plural. Nourishment appropriate to the earliest stages of development (cf. milk, n.1 3a). Obsolete. rare.

A proverbial phrase for fair words or flattery without performance or sincere intention. Also called court-water and court-element: see court, n.1…

Flattery.

Gently flattering speech or action; cajolery.

Salve or ointment for the lips; an example of this; also figurative flattering speech. attributive in lipsalve-box.

= court holy water, n.

Flattery.

The action of collogue, v.

Blandishment, flattery; a smooth or plausible word or speech. Also personified. Obsolete.

figurative. Insincere compliments, flattery. dialect.

Flattery.

transferred and figurative.

(cf. court holy water, n.).

figurative. Flattering or ingratiating speech or behaviour, esp. when used to gain favour or advantage.

‘Flattering speech’.

Juxtaposed with water or vinegar in similative and figurative contexts: denoting people who or things which are incompatible or incongruous with…

hollow flattery (cf. court-water n.).

= courtship, n. 4.

Practice of the arts of a courtier; courtcraft; diplomacy, flattery, etc. Obsolete.

Smooth speech, flattering talk.

insincere flattery such as is used by courtiers.

The putting a false show on anything (obsolete); hypocritical flattery.

Flattery; a piece of flattery.

(see quot.).

A delusive flattery.

In various proverbial phrases.

Talk intended to cajole, flatter, or wheedle.

(a) a jug used for serving melted butter; (b) figurative (colloquial) excessive or insincere flattery (cf. sense 2b).

figurative. Mere flattery or empty compliment; nonsense, humbug, empty trifling.

figurative. Something sweet or clogging; esp. complimentary laudation, blandishment; cf. butter, n.1 2b.

(see quot.).

figurative (cf. ‘flummery.’)

Smoothly flattering or cajoling talk. (colloquial.) Also, nonsense.

U.S. colloquial. Persuasive flattery; ‘soft soap’, lies. Typically as part of an extended metaphor, esp. to feed (someone) on soft corn. Now rare.

Wheedling speech, flattery, cajolery.

‘Soft hypocritical language’ (Slang Dict. 1874); also, a smooth talker, a flatterer.

the action of buttering someone up; flattery; cf. butter, v. 3a.

colloquial (originally U.S.). Persuasive flattery or cajoling; (also) unduly careful or deferential treatment.

Humbug, deception; flattery, ‘blarney’.

figurative. Drivel, nonsense; also, gross flattery.

colloquial. Chiefly in form soft sawder. Flattery; ingratiating behaviour; (also) exaggeration. Cf. soft soap, n. 2. Now rare.

Of medical applications, drugs, etc.; spec. soothing powder (in quot. figurative); soothing syrup, a medicinal preparation supposed to calm fretful…

persuasive flattery; unduly deferential behaviour; cf. sense 2.

Flattery; insincere or exaggerated praise, esp. when used to cajole or persuade.

Flattery; exaggeration; = soft solder, n. 2.

slang. Flattery. Cf. soft soap, n. 2.

figurative. slang. See quot., and cf. lipsalve, n.

U.S. slang. Crude or vulgar compliment or flattery; ‘soft soap’; blarney.

The action of engaging in plámás (plámás, n.); flattery; insincere or exaggerated praise, especially as a means to cajole or persuade.

slang. Nonsense, ‘hot air’; flattery, unnecessary ostentation; (see also quot. 1943). Cf. flannel-mouth n. (c) at compounds 2 and flannel, v. 4.

An unctuous bearing; fulsome flattery; flattering or toadying behaviour.

(Cf. flannel, n. 1f.)

Endearment, blandishment, flattery.

A bribe; bribery, corruption. Also: flattery with a view to influencing someone.