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

• We'll soften you up, I promise you.
  我向你保证，我们会让你老实的。
• 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。
• 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。
• The way to eat a frozen pear is to first immerse it in cold boiled water. The pear will soon be coated with ice and then soften up gradually.
  吃冻梨要先把它放入凉开水中缓解，刚入水的梨会在表皮上结一层厚厚的冰，不多久就会软化。
• You'd soften up soon enough if I were blacky.
  小二黑一来管保你就软了！
• Soften me up for the big guns, eh?
  先软化我，再用厉害的武器，是吗？
• 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。
• I thought he wouid soften up over the years.
  我以为这些年他会变得软弱。
• The material has begun to soften up.
  材料开始变软了。
• His strategy was to soften them up with compliments.
  他的策略是用恭维话来打动他们。