<英,非正式>to butter sb up or to butter up sb奉承;谄媚
The bank has to butter up investors because it is in a fiercely competitive market.银行不得不好好巴结投资者, 因为这个市场的竞争很激烈。
I tried buttering her up. 'I've always admired people with these sorts of talents.'我试着奉承她, “我一直崇拜有这些才华的人。”