To butter up somebody (or butter somebody up) is to flatter or be very nice to someone so that they will do what you want them to do.
Examples of use:
1. A. You’re looking very beautiful today – I love your new hairstyle and you have such gorgeous eyes.
B. Are you trying to butter me up?
2. He desperately wants a promotion so he’s always trying to butter up our boss.
3. I tried buttering her up but she still wouldn’t lend me her new boots.
4.The MPs are buttering up the voters before the election.
5. You’ll have to butter her up a bit before she’ll agree to spending so much money on a new car.
| infinitive |
butter up |
| present simple |
butter up and butters up |
| -ing form |
buttering up |
| past simple |
buttered up |
| past participle |
buttered up |
Can you write a sentence using this phrasal verb? 
Image © Ralph Unden
