buttering up
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Before Musk decided to exit OpenAI, Brockman described his attempts to gain more control over the company, an effort that included "buttering up" Brockman and another co-founder, Ilya Sutskever.
From BBC ● May 5, 2026
Besides, Colby has long displayed a knack for buttering up his superiors.
From Slate ● Jul. 8, 2025
Mall operators are responding in part by upgrading their food game and buttering up desirable restaurateurs with the favorable rent and other concessions that used to go to department stores.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 26, 2017
He also bought lots of goodwill by relentlessly befriending and buttering up admirals and other senior Navy officers, showering them with gifts and meals.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 27, 2016
As soon as she saw the way the cards were falling, she started buttering up to me.
From The Common Man by George Luther Schelling
