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。
• 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。
• We'll soften you up, I promise you.
  我向你保证，我们会让你老实的。
• His strategy was to soften them up with compliments.
  他的策略是用恭维话来打动他们。
• I thought he wouid soften up over the years.
  我以为这些年他会变得软弱。
• Okay, I was trying to soften you up.
  好了，我那是在软化你。
• 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。
• You go in and soften father up, and then I'll ask him for the money.
  你进去先用好话软化父亲，然后，我再去向他要钱。
• His face seems to soften up a little.
  他脸色看上去温和点了。
• The answer-I need to soften myself up ( for half an hour or so) before going to bed.
  答案是，在上床睡觉之前，我会花点时间，大约半小时，来放松自己。