flattery

/'flætəri/

Thân thiện

A colleague uses flattery to compliment his manager's presentation.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Excessive or insincere praise: The act of praising someone too much or in a way that is not honest, often to gain favor or advantage.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • She was immune to his flattery and saw through his motives.
  • The manager was not fooled by the obvious flattery from the new intern.
  • He used flattery to get a promotion.

Advanced Usage

• "Flattery will get you nowhere": An idiom meaning that insincere praise will not help you achieve your goal.
  • When he tried to compliment the boss's tie, she just smiled and said, "Flattery will get you nowhere."

Variants and Related Words

• Flatter (verb): To praise someone excessively or insincerely.
  • He tried to flatter her by saying she was the smartest person he knew.
• Flatterer (noun): A person who flatters others.
  • Be wary of flatterers; they often want something in return.

Synonyms

• Adulation: Excessive admiration or praise.
• Blandishment: Flattering speech or actions designed to persuade someone gently.
• Fawning: Displaying exaggerated flattery or affection.

Related Phrases

• Lay it on thick (idiom): To flatter or praise someone excessively.
  • He was really laying it on thick when he said I was the best writer of our generation.

Học thuật

Noun

1. excessive or insincere praise