soft sawder

A salesman uses soft sawder to flatter a potential customer.

Definition

1. Noun (slang, informal):
   • Flattering or insincere praise: "soft sawder" refers to exaggerated compliments or smooth talk used to persuade, manipulate, or gain favor with someone. It often implies a degree of deceit or superficiality.

Usage Examples

• (He gave excessive, insincere praise to influence her decision.)
• (The flattering talk was a manipulative strategy.)

Advanced Usage

• "to use soft sawder on someone": to employ flattery or smooth talk to achieve a goal.

  • She used soft sawder on her boss to get a promotion, though her work was mediocre. (She flattered insincerely to advance her career.)

• "soft sawder" as a synonym for "blarney": Both terms describe charming, often deceptive talk.

  • His speech was full of soft sawder, but nobody believed a word of it. (His talk was charming but untrustworthy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sawder (n, rare): a variant of "solder," but in this idiom, "sawder" is a humorous or distorted form of "solder" (metal joining material), suggesting that flattery "solders" or bonds relationships artificially.
• Soft-soap (n): a synonym for flattery or smooth talk.
  • He tried to soft-soap his way into the club. (He used flattery to gain entry.)

Synonyms

• Flattery: excessive and often insincere praise.
• Blarney: smooth, flattering talk intended to persuade.
• Cajolery: persuasion through flattery or gentle coaxing.
• Adulation: excessive admiration or praise.

Related Idioms

• Butter up: to flatter someone excessively to gain a favor.
  • She buttered up her teacher before asking for an extension. (She flattered to get what she wanted.)
• Sweet talk: charming or flattering speech used to influence someone.
  • He used sweet talk to convince her to lend him money. (He used flattering words.)

Etymology Note

The term "soft sawder" likely originated in 19th-century American English, playing on the word "solder" (a metal alloy used to bond surfaces). The idea is that flattery "solders" or cements social bonds, but the word "sawder" is a humorous misspelling or alteration. It is now considered archaic or dialectal.