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

• Sometimes an expensive gift may be necessary to soften up a government official.
  有时为了使一位政府官员手软，向其赠送一份昂贵的礼物也许是必要的。
• It can turn firm for off-road, trail running and then soften up when it hits the pavement.
  它可以越野，在公路，步道上跑步，踩在路面时会缓冲。
• You'd soften up soon enough if I were blacky.
  小二黑一来管保你就软了！
• Relax, soften up internally and physically, and let it go.
  歇会儿，让心灵和身体放松，然后放手。
• 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。
• I thought he wouid soften up over the years.
  我以为这些年他会变得软弱。
• The navy's job is to go in before the invasion and soften up the beach.
  海军的任务就是在入侵和海滩软化前登陆成功。
• The frozen earth begins to soften up at the beginning of spring every year.
  每年一开春，冻土就开始融化。
• Told her it would soften him up.
  我说那会让他心软。
• Okay, I was trying to soften you up.
  好了，我那是在软化你。