soft-soap: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    USUKGlobalinformalcolloquial
    • To flatter or cajole someone insincerely in order to gain favor, influence, or advantage.
    • To use smooth, persuasive talk to obtain cooperation or information.

    Examples

    Beta

    • John tried to soft-soap the manager by complimenting her taste in art, hoping to get a promotion.

      John intentó adular al gerente alabando su gusto por el arte, con la esperanza de obtener un ascenso.

    • If you soft-soap her just a little, she might agree to extend the deadline for the project.

      Si la adulas un poco, podría aceptar extender la fecha límite del proyecto.

    • They soft-soaped the client all afternoon, using flattery to secure the contract.

      Adularon al cliente toda la tarde, usando halagos para asegurar el contrato.

  • 2.

    USUKGlobalinformalcolloquialdated
    • Flattery or ingratiating talk used to influence someone; sweet talk or cajolery.

    Examples

    Beta

    • Her speech was full of soft-soap, aiming to win over the skeptical audience with sweet talk.

      Su discurso estaba lleno de adulaciones, tratando de ganarse a la audiencia escéptica con palabras dulces.

    • The politician’s soft-soap was transparent, and most voters saw through his ingratiating tone.

      La adulación del político fue transparente, y la mayoría de los votantes vieron a través de su tono servil.

    • Don’t trust the soft-soap in his emails; he’s just trying to manipulate you.

      No confíes en las adulaciones de sus correos electrónicos; solo está tratando de manipularte.

Examples:

  • EN: Why don't you go in and soft-soap him a little?
    ES: ¿Qué tal si entras y lo halagas un poco?
  • EN: You've been gone long enough to soft-soap 20 city editors. Yeah.
    ES: Has tenido tiempo de adular a 20 editores de la ciudad.
  • EN: For your sake beautiful, I hope you're not trying to soft-soap me.
    ES: Guapa, espero que no intentes engañarme.
  • EN: Don't try to soft-soap me.
    ES: No quiera aplacarme.
  • EN: As soon as they come into the living room we'll be real nice to them, see soft-soap them a little smoosh 'em up.
    ES: Tan pronto como entran en la sala de estar estaremos muy agradable para ellos, consulte suave sin jabón un poco smoosh 'em up.
  • EN: And all you did was stand there and soft-soap him.
    ES: Y tú te limitaste a quedarte ahí plantado sin hacer nada.
  • EN: What sort of a Producer would I be if I couldn't soft-soap these prima-donnas?
    ES: ¿Qué clase de productor sería si no supiera frenar a estas prima-donnas?
  • EN: Gomez, don't soft-soap me.
    ES: Homero, no me engatuses.
  • EN: I let you soft-soap me into telling you where Pat lived and now he's dead.
    ES: Dejé que me ablandaras para que te dijera dónde vivía Pat y ahora él está muerto.
  • EN: You know, that Graham sherbourne who wrote us those shuck and jive letters. I bet he sent this fella over here to soft-soap us.
    ES: Graham Sherbourne, el que nos escribió... debe haber enviado a ese tipo a halagarnos.
  • EN: He's gonna bear down on me and soft-soap you.
    ES: A mí me va a tratar con mano dura y a ti no.
  • EN: Did he try to soft-soap you?
    ES: ¿Trató de acaramelarte?
  • EN: Creed said if I helped him get Nightcrawler, the Friends of Humanity wouldn't harm either of us. Don't soft-soap the girl !
    ES: Ojalá que eso nos dé un poco de tiempo.
  • EN: He ain't gonna soft-soap nobody.
    ES: Él no le lame las botas a nadie.
  • EN: You got to be... I don't know... soft-soap them, a little more high-toned, sir.
    ES: Tienes que ser...no se...engatuzador, un poco mas elegante, señor.
  • EN: Why don't you go in and soft-soap him a little?
    ES: ¿Qué tal si entras y lo halagas un poco?
  • EN: You've been gone long enough to soft-soap 20 city editors. Yeah.
    ES: Has tenido tiempo de adular a 20 editores de la ciudad.

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Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary