dar coba

1.
SpainLatin Americainformalcolloquial
- To flatter or ingratiate oneself with someone by means of compliments or flattery, usually to obtain favor or avoid trouble.
- To butter up or sweet-talk a person in order to influence them.
2.
SpainLatin Americainformalcolloquial
- To placate or distract someone with insincere praise or empty words.

Examples:

ES: Menos dar coba a generales y más tiempo con tu compañía...
EN: Less time buttering generals and more with your company...
ES: Deja de dar coba.
EN: Lay off the soft soap.
ES: No voy a dar coba a cada gamberro...
EN: Look, if you think I'm going to fawn to some of the yobbos we get in here...
ES: Iba a hacer algo realmente estúpido hace un rato. pero tengo que dar coba y hablar con mi padrastro, espero que funcione.
EN: I was gonna do something really stupid earlier, but I... just got to suck it up and talk to my stepdad, hope everything works out.