as in to honey
to praise too much
a flunky who shamelessly butters up the boss
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Recent Examples of butter up
Warming the milk and butter up first helps to avoid any milk fat white spots on top of your decadent chocolate cake.
—
Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2024
Griffin isn’t the only big-name boss to try and butter up workers by putting on an unforgettable party.
—Byorianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023
Ripple’s ongoing efforts to butter up the banking and corporate world have made the company, and by extension XRP, an object of hostility and derision among the rest of the crypto world.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 24 Mar. 2023
Next, coat the bottom of a casserole dish with butter, place the potatoes in, and pat more butter up on top.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE.com, 23 Nov. 2021
At the center: six cinnamon rolls that a candidate alleged had been used to butter up voters during the tight mayoral race in October.
—María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2023
Steele storms out, but Sarah stays behind to butter up the AG.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 21 Nov. 2022
But why was butter up 6% in March, while milk rose only 1.3%?
—Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN, 13 Apr. 2022
The producers even included a vegan baker in the mix, a woman who put her cakes without eggs or butter up against those ofher peers without missinga beat.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 6 Nov. 2021
Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2024
Griffin isn’t the only big-name boss to try and butter up workers by putting on an unforgettable party.
—Byorianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023
Ripple’s ongoing efforts to butter up the banking and corporate world have made the company, and by extension XRP, an object of hostility and derision among the rest of the crypto world.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune Crypto, 24 Mar. 2023
Next, coat the bottom of a casserole dish with butter, place the potatoes in, and pat more butter up on top.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE.com, 23 Nov. 2021
At the center: six cinnamon rolls that a candidate alleged had been used to butter up voters during the tight mayoral race in October.
—María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2023
Steele storms out, but Sarah stays behind to butter up the AG.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 21 Nov. 2022
But why was butter up 6% in March, while milk rose only 1.3%?
—Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN, 13 Apr. 2022
The producers even included a vegan baker in the mix, a woman who put her cakes without eggs or butter up against those ofher peers without missinga beat.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 6 Nov. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butter up
Verb
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Those harmonies — simultaneously honeyed and gravelly, providing just enough support without overshadowing, yet so powerful and full of potential — echoes Whitten.Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2024
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Enjoy flavored nuts, such as those that are candied, glazed, or honied, in moderation.Selene Yeager, Health, 24 Feb. 2024
Verb
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In response, the city's official Facebook page posted a statement congratulating Vance on Wednesday.Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 5 Dec. 2024
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To seal the night, a sky-high Principessa cake illuminated with sparklers made the rounds, as revelers congratulated the brand’s team and soaked in the festive atmosphere.Vogue, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Beyond stroking Trump’s ego, Sunday’s display of dominance in one of the bluest places in America seemed designed to create a sense of inevitability around a Republican restoration.Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
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In a video posted to X, Hines, 59, was seen stroking her husband’s face with her finger.Lizzie Hyman, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Creams and serums: Add rice water to a base ingredient, such as coconut oil, and massage it into your skin, or add rice water to a favorite moisturizer or serum.Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 10 Dec. 2024
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This Repair and Shine Hair Brush has an olive wood handle and boar hair bristles that impart shine and massage the scalp.Adam Mansuroglu, WWD, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Quite a few commenters praised the bride's brother for supporting his sister and being a voice of reason.Erin Clack, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
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Sony Wireless Premium Noise-Canceling Headphones Shoppers on Amazon praise these noise-canceling headphones for their exceptional sound quality, great battery life, and comfortable wear.Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Creative agencies are applauded for their ability to deliver astounding results for their clients by leveraging top-tier talent and a significant amount of resources.Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
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Loud ovations greeted the Carnegie performances, and the musicians themselves applauded their future leader.Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Little commended the team for doing so then in an X post.Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 29 Nov. 2024
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Steichen commended Richardson for his poise on a day when the Colts were far from performing their best.James Boyd, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Ask for advice An easy way to flatter someone while making small talk without offering up an outright compliment is to ask them for advice.Aditi Shrikant, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2024
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The elastic waistband flatters all shapes, making long travel days comfortable, but the sweater’s center seam along the front offers a dressier feel.Jean Chen Smith, Travel + Leisure, 6 Dec. 2024
Articles Related to butter up
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Cite this Entry
“Butter up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butter%20up. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
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