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
Zelensky isn’t alone among prominent Ukrainians in trying to butter up Trump.
—
Sophie Tanno, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
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
Sophie Tanno, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
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
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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Immediately after his victory, many tech leaders publicly congratulated Trump and started making moves to win his favor, including schmoozing with the incoming president at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and making donations to his inauguration committee.—
Jay Peters,
The Verge,
19 Jan. 2025
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Fans took to the comment section to congratulate Oleksy and her husband.—
Sara Vallone,
Miami Herald,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The sleeve was also successfully used to deliver a virtual stroking sensation, by sequentially activating the pouches one after another.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
23 Dec. 2024
-
The father pointed to the sky, stroked his head, and seemed to explain something to him.—
Michael Sheldrick,
Forbes,
28 Dec. 2024
Verb
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One of his friends massages his back while he’s curled on the floor.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
16 Jan. 2025
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The hyaluronidase is then directly injected into the site of the hyaluronic acid dermal filler, and then the area is massaged.—
Jackie Fields,
People.com,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The son of Jackson’s older brother Jermaine Jackson was cast to play the lead, who the film’s producer, Graham King, has praised.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN,
27 Jan. 2025
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His versatility, work ethic and team-first attitude impressed former coach Tata Martino and Mascherano has praised him, as well.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Aufderheide, who is also the director of the Resuscitation Research Center, applauded the coalition’s goals.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Jan. 2025
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Trump applauded the choir with visible enthusiasm, a gesture that appeared genuine.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The prince's lawyer, David Sherborne, commended his battle outside court on Wednesday and pushed for a police investigation into the saga.—
Joel Thayer,
Newsweek,
27 Jan. 2025
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Educational leaders, including Florida International University’s then-president Mark B. Rosenberg, at the time commended Nuñez on her advocacy.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In his first statement since the ruling, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew gave no insight into how TikTok would handle Sunday’s deadline and instead opted to flatter Trump.—
Lauren Feiner,
The Verge,
17 Jan. 2025
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Has Trump finally learned to trust his own instincts over the questionable instincts of those who try to flatter him?—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to butter up
Thesaurus Entries Near butter up
Cite this Entry
“Butter up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butter%20up. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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