soften up

英 [ˈsɒfn ʌp]

美 [ˈsɔːfn ʌp]

（求助于人之前）讨好，安抚

柯林斯词典

• PHRASAL VERB (求助于人之前)讨好，安抚
  If yousoftensomeoneup, you put them into a good mood before asking them to do something.
  1. If they'd treated you well it was just to soften you up.
     他们要是对你好，也不过是为了讨好你罢了。

双语例句

• Knoll often takes a pea-sized amount of pomade or wax, rubs it between his hands to soften it up, and wraps pieces of hair around his fingers.
  出席晚间活动之前，他通常会取豌豆大小的润发油或发蜡涂在手心上，摩擦双手将其均匀抹开，然后用手指抓头发。
• Soften up a prospective buyer with soft-sell tactics
  用诱劝等软推销手法软化未来的买主
• She tried to soften up her sister by buying her some chocolates.
  她试图用巧克力来安抚她的妹妹。
• This cream will soften up your skin.
  这种面霜会使你皮肤柔软。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.
  这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。
• Soften me up for the big guns, eh?
  先软化我，再用厉害的武器，是吗？
• Okay, I was trying to soften you up.
  好了，我那是在软化你。
• His face seems to soften up a little.
  他脸色看上去温和点了。
• If they'd treated you well it was just to soften you up.
  他们要是对你好，也不过是为了讨好你罢了。
• First they would "soften up" an island, weakening the resistance by shelling the enemy strongholds with bombs from offshore ships.
  首先他们会“软化”该岛，以离岸船舰发射炮弹摧毁敌人的防线，削弱他们的守卫。