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

• 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 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。
• 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。
• I thought he wouid soften up over the years.
  我以为这些年他会变得软弱。
• The special cream will help to soften up your skin.
  这种特制香脂有助于使皮肤柔软。
• We'll soften you up, I promise you.
  我向你保证，我们会让你老实的。
• 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。
• His face seems to soften up a little.
  他脸色看上去温和点了。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.
  这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。
• Soften up a prospective buyer with soft-sell tactics
  用诱劝等软推销手法软化未来的买主