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。
• I thought he wouid soften up over the years.
  我以为这些年他会变得软弱。
• Okay, I was trying to soften you up.
  好了，我那是在软化你。
• Relax, soften up internally and physically, and let it go.
  歇会儿，让心灵和身体放松，然后放手。
• 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。
• 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。
• The material has begun to soften up.
  材料开始变软了。
• You'd soften up soon enough if I were blacky.
  小二黑一来管保你就软了！
• Sometimes an expensive gift may be necessary to soften up a government official.
  有时为了使一位政府官员手软，向其赠送一份昂贵的礼物也许是必要的。
• 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。