Definition

Adjective Phrase 1. Excessively lenient or tolerant towards someone or something, often to a fault: Describes a lack of strictness, severity, or proper judgment, especially when it is expected or required. 2. Having a foolish or unreasoning fondness or affection for someone or something: Describes an intense, often uncritical, emotional attachment or infatuation.

Usage Examples

• Adjective Phrase (Lenient):
  • Critics accused the judge of being soft on white-collar crime.
  • The new manager is known for being soft on employees who arrive late.
• Adjective Phrase (Infatuated):
  • He's always been soft on her, ever since they were in school together.
  • The reviewer was clearly soft on the director's latest film, ignoring its major flaws.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often implies a criticism or a perceived weakness in judgment, whether in a professional/personal context (leniency) or an emotional one (infatuation).
• It can be used in political or social commentary to criticize policies perceived as insufficiently strict (e.g., , ).

Variants and Related Words

• Soft (adj): Can imply gentleness, but not the specific critical connotation of being "soft on."
• Lenient (adj): A direct synonym for the first meaning, meaning permissive or merciful.
• Infatuated (adj): A direct synonym for the second meaning, meaning possessed by an intense but short-lived passion.

Synonyms

• For Lenient: Indulgent, permissive, easygoing, tolerant.
• For Infatuated: Enamored, besotted, smitten, captivated.

Related Phrases

• Have a soft spot for: To have a particular affection or weakness for someone or something. This is less critical than "soft on."
  • I have a soft spot for old jazz records. (This expresses personal affection.)
  • The teacher is soft on students who don't do homework. (This implies a failure of duty.)

Adjective

1. marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness
   • gaga over the rock group's new album
   • he was infatuated with her