🇯🇵Japanese Source WordCode: JA

お世辞を言う

Pronunciation / Transliteration: oseji o iu

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Soft-soap/ˈsɒftˌsəʊp/
verbnounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #14500 frequency
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🇯🇵 Example Sentence in Japanese:

"彼は部長をお世辞で丸め込もうとした。"

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb
  1. 1

    To persuade or influence someone by flattery, smooth talk, or cajolery.

    "He tried to soft-soap the manager into giving him an extension on the project deadline."
As noun
  1. 1

    Flattery or persuasive talk intended to coax or deceive.

    "She saw right through his soft-soap and demanded a straightforward answer."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the literal noun referring to a semi-fluid potassium soap, the term evolved in mid-19th-century American English as a metaphorical idiom. It plays on the slippery, smooth texture of liquid soap to describe the act of applying smooth, flattering words to persuade or manipulate someone.

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