soften sb up
— phrasal verb with soften uk/ˈsɒf.ən/us/ˈsɑː.fən/verb [ I or T ]
to do things that will please someone so that they will do what you want:
You're trying to soften me up so I'll drive you to Jodie's house, aren't you?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Urging & persuading
- argumentation
- blag
- brainwash
- bring
- browbeat
- butter
- cajole
- get sth out of sb
- persuade
- persuasion
- preach
- prevail on/upon sb
- proselytize
- rush sb into (doing) sth
- sucker sb into sth
- swing
- talk sb down
- talk sb out of sth
- twist
- work on sb
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