flatter
verb /ˈflætə(r)/
/ˈflætər/
Verb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they flatter | /ˈflætə(r)/ /ˈflætər/ |
| he / she / it flatters | /ˈflætəz/ /ˈflætərz/ |
| past simple flattered | /ˈflætəd/ /ˈflætərd/ |
| past participle flattered | /ˈflætəd/ /ˈflætərd/ |
| -ing form flattering | /ˈflætərɪŋ/ /ˈflætərɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] flatter somebody to say nice things about somebody, often in a way that is not sincere, because you want them to do something for you or you want to please them
- Are you trying to flatter me?
- [transitive] flatter yourself (that…) to choose to believe something good about yourself and your abilities, especially when other people do not share this opinion
- ‘How will you manage without me?’ ‘Don't flatter yourself.’
- [transitive] flatter somebody/something to make somebody look attractive; to make somebody seem more attractive or better than they really are
- That colour doesn't flatter many people.
- The scoreline flattered England (= they did not deserve to get such a high score).
- He agreed to do the interview because it flattered his ego (= made him feel important).
Word OriginMiddle English: perhaps a back-formation from flattery.
Idioms
be/feel flattered
- to be pleased because somebody has made you feel important or special
- He was flattered by her attention.
- I felt flattered at being asked to give a lecture.
- She was flattered to hear that he had been asking about her.
- I suppose we should be flattered that he agreed to come at all.
flatter to deceive
- (British English) if something flatters to deceive, it appears to be better, more successful, etc. than it really is
- As with many new bands, their early success flattered to deceive.