Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense flatters, present participle flattering, past tense, past participle flattered
1. verb
If someone flatters you, they praise you in an exaggerated way that is not sincere, because they want to please you or to persuade you to do something.
[disapproval]
I knew she was just flattering me. [VERB noun]
...a story of how the president flattered and feted him into taking his side. [VERB noun + into]
Synonyms: praise, compliment, pander to, sweet-talk [informal] More Synonyms of flatter
2. verb
If you flatteryourself that something good is the case, you believe that it is true, although others may disagree. If someone says to you 'you're flattering yourself' or 'don't flatter yourself', they mean that they disagree with your good opinion of yourself.
I flatter myself that this campaign will put an end to the war. [V pron-refl that]
I flatter myself I've done it all rather well. [V pron-refl that]
You flatter yourself. Why would we go to such ludicrous lengths? [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
3. verb
If something flatters you, it makes you appear more attractive.
Orange and khaki flatter those with golden skin tones. [VERB noun]
My philosophy of fashion is that I like to make clothes that flatter. [VERB]
Synonyms: suit, become, enhance, set off More Synonyms of flatter
4. See also flat, flattered, flattering
flatter in British English1
(ˈflætə)
verb
1.
to praise insincerely, esp in order to win favour or reward
2.
to show to advantage
that dress flatters her
3. (transitive)
to make to appear more attractive, etc, than in reality
4.
to play upon or gratify the vanity of (a person)
it flatters her to be remembered
5. (transitive)
to beguile with hope; encourage, esp falsely
this success flattered him into believing himself a champion
6. (transitive)
to congratulate or deceive (oneself)
I flatter myself that I am the best
Derived forms
flatterable (ˈflatterable)
adjective
flatterer (ˈflatterer)
noun
Word origin
C13: probably from Old French flater to lick, fawn upon, of Frankish origin
flatter in British English2
(ˈflætə)
noun
1.
a blacksmith's tool, resembling a flat-faced hammer, that is placed on forged work and struck to smooth the surface of the forging
2.
a die with a narrow rectangular orifice for drawing flat sections
flatter in American English1
(ˈflætər)
verb transitive
1.
to praise too much, untruly, or insincerely, as in order to win favor
2.
to try to please, or ingratiate oneself with, by praise and attention
3.
to make seem better or more attractive than is so
his portrait flatters him
4.
to make feel pleased or honored; gratify the vanity of
it's flattering to be remembered
5.
to please or gratify (the eye, ear, senses, etc.)
6.
to encourage, esp. falsely
verb intransitive
7.
to use flattery
Idioms:
flatter oneself
Derived forms
flatterer (ˈflatterer)
noun
flatteringly (ˈflatteringly)
adverb
Word origin
ME flateren < OFr flater, to smooth, caress with flat hand < Frank *flat, akin to OHG flaz, flat1
flatter in American English2
(ˈflætər)
noun
1.
a person who flattens something
2.
a drawplate for forming flat strips
3.
a smith's forging tool with a broad, flat face
flatter in American English3
(ˈflætər)
adjective, adverb
compar. of
flat1
Examples of 'flatter' in a sentence
flatter
He flattered to deceive last season and has dropped down the weights as a result.
The Sun (2016)
Belgium have flattered to deceive for about five years now.
The Sun (2016)
The 22-year-old has often flattered to deceive during the opening phase of the campaign.
The Sun (2016)
Might anyone in particular recognise themselves in a less flattering portrayal?
The Sun (2012)
This is one car whose looks in no way flatter to deceive.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But they chose for us to play with them so we were really flattered.
The Sun (2015)
Wrap dresses always flatter as the waist detail softens any curves.
The Sun (2006)
We have always thought of ways to make our clothes flattering.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Here are some other celebs with a less than flattering web presence.
The Sun (2013)
He has flattered to deceive in their opening three league games.
The Sun (2015)
We then found her a green patterned dress which flatters her figure.
The Sun (2007)
This can easily be addressed by finding the right clothes to flatter her figure.
The Sun (2007)
He knows he is often seen in a less than flattering light.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But is he flattering to deceive and will there be yet more disappointment?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This dress mimics a flattering hourglass shape.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There are also specialist retailers that design clothes to flatter petite frames.
The Sun (2009)
Has it shaped up after some less than flattering preview notices?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The dress is so flattering and such good quality.
The Sun (2016)
Also outstanding are the eye shadows, in an array of flattering colours that really stay put.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The club's penchant for flattering only to deceive is now way beyond a joke.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Of the defendant and his lawyer, she is less flattering.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She says: 'It is so flattering and exciting.
The Sun (2012)
He added: 'It was very flattering.
The Sun (2013)
Word lists with
flatter
tool
In other languages
flatter
British English: flatter /ˈflætə/ VERB
If someone flatters you, they praise you in an exaggerated way that is not sincere.
I knew she was just flattering me.
American English: flatter
Arabic: يَتَمَلَّقُ
Brazilian Portuguese: bajular
Chinese: 奉承
Croatian: laskati
Czech: lichotit
Danish: smigre
Dutch: vleien
European Spanish: adular
Finnish: imarrella
French: flatter
German: schmeicheln
Greek: κολακεύω
Italian: adulare
Japanese: おだてる
Korean: 아첨하다
Norwegian: smigre
Polish: pochlebić
European Portuguese: lisonjear
Romanian: a flata
Russian: льстить
Latin American Spanish: halagar
Swedish: smickra
Thai: ยกยอ
Turkish: pohpohlamak
Ukrainian: лестити
Vietnamese: nịnh nọt
All related terms of 'flatter'
flat
A flat is a set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor and part of a larger building. A flat usually includes a kitchen and bathroom .
flatted
horizontal ; level
flattest
horizontal ; level
flatter oneself
to hold the self-satisfying or self-deluding belief ( that )
double flat
an accidental that lowers the pitch of the following note two semitones
Chinese translation of 'flatter'
flatter
(ˈflætəʳ)
vt
(= praise) 奉承 (fèngchéng)
[dress, photograph]使更漂亮 (shǐ gèng piàoliang)
to be flattered (that ... )(对(對)于(於) ... )感到荣(榮)幸 ((duìyú ... ) gǎndào róngxìng)
to flatter o.s. (that ... )(对(對) ... )自我感觉(覺)良好 ((duì ... ) zìwǒ gǎnjué liánghǎo)
flat
(flæt)
adj
(= level)[ground, surface]平的 (píng de)
(= shallow) 浅(淺)的 (qiǎn de)
[tyre, ball]气(氣)不足的 (qì bùzú de)
(Brit)[battery]没(沒)电(電)的 (méi diàn de)
美 = dead
[beer, champagne]跑了气(氣)的 (pǎole qì de)
[refusal, rejection, denial]断(斷)然的 (duànrán de)
(Mus)[singing, instrument]降音的 (jiàngyīn de)
[rate, fee]统(統)一的 (tǒngyī de)
(= without emotion)[voice]无(無)精打采的 (wú jīng dǎ cǎi de)
n(c)
(Brit, in building) 公寓 (gōngyù) (套, tào)
美 = apartment
(Aut) 漏气(氣)车(車)胎 (lòuqì chētāi)
(Mus) 降号(號) (jiànghào)
adv
[lie]平地 (píng de)
(Mus)[sing, play]降音地 (jiàngyīn de)
to work flat out (Brit) 尽(盡)全力工作 (jìn quánlì gōngzuò)
in 10 minutes flat就10分钟(鐘) (jiù shí fēnzhōng)
to fall flat[joke, attempt]毫无(無)效果 (háo wú xiàoguǒ)
the flat of one's hand手掌 (shǒuzhǎng)
B/A flat (Mus) 降B/A音 (jiàng B/A yīn)
1 (verb)
Definition
to praise insincerely, esp. in order to win favour
I knew he was just flattering me.
Synonyms
praise
compliment
They complimented me on my performance.
pander to
sweet-talk (informal)
He even tried to sweet-talk the policewoman who arrested him.
court
The pledge to protect pensions was designed to court elderly voters.
humour
She humoured her boss to avoid arguments.
puff
TV correspondents puffing the new digital channels
flannel (British, informal)
He flannelled and prevaricated.
fawn
People fawn on you when you're famous.
cajole
It was he who cajoled the actor into making the film.
lay it on (thick) (slang)
wheedle
They managed to wheedle some more money out of me.
inveigle
soft-soap (informal)
butter up
blandish
2 (verb)
Definition
to show to advantage
Orange flatters those with golden skin tones.
Synonyms
suit
Green suits you.
become
Does khaki become you?
enhance
They want to enhance their reputation abroad.
set off
Blue suits you – it sets off the colour of your hair.
embellish
The boat was embellished with red and blue carvings.
do something for
show to advantage
Additional synonyms
in the sense of become
Definition
to suit
Does khaki become you?
Synonyms
suit,
look good on,
fit,
enhance,
flatter,
ornament,
embellish,
grace,
harmonize with,
look right on,
set off
in the sense of blandish
Definition
to persuade by mild flattery
Synonyms
flatter,
entice,
coax,
flannel (British, informal),
beguile,
fawn,
cajole,
pander to,
ingratiate,
wheedle,
sweet-talk (informal),
inveigle,
soft-soap (informal),
toady,
butter up,
lick someone's boots (slang),
lick someone's arse (taboo, slang)
in the sense of cajole
Definition
to persuade by flattery
It was he who cajoled the actor into making the film.
Synonyms
persuade,
tempt,
lure,
flatter,
manoeuvre,
seduce,
entice,
coax,
beguile,
wheedle,
sweet-talk (informal),
inveigle
Synonyms of 'flatter'
flatter
Explore 'flatter' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of wheedle
Definition
to try to persuade (someone) by coaxing or flattery
They managed to wheedle some more money out of me.