Question

Butter Someone Up to flatter someone; to try to get a favor by praising someone

Accepted Answer

Maybe if you butter up the math teacher, she'll raise your final grade. This saying comes from the simple act of buttering a slice of bread. When you take plain bread and lay on a thick coating of creamy butter, it's sort of like covering a person with praise and flattery. People often "butter" other people up when they want special help or favored treatment. Similar sayings: "to soft-soap" and "to sweet-talk."

Idiom	Butter Someone Up
Example	Maybe if you butter up the math teacher, she'll raise your final grade.
Meaning	to flatter someone; to try to get a favor by praising someone
Origin	This saying comes from the simple act of buttering a slice of bread. When you take plain bread and lay on a thick coating of creamy butter, it's sort of like covering a person with praise and flattery. People often "butter" other people up when they want special help or favored treatment. Similar sayings: "to soft-soap" and "to sweet-talk."

Butter People Math Teacher She'll Raise Final Grade