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

• Soften me up for the big guns, eh?
  先软化我，再用厉害的武器，是吗？
• This cream will soften up your skin.
  这种面霜会使你皮肤柔软。
• 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。
• All the while, soften her up by telling her how much you admire her dedication or analytical prowess.
  并且你可以通过一直告诉她你有多佩服她的付出和分析能力来让她软化。
• 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。
• 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。
• 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。
• 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。
• 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。