Question

Catch More Flies with Honey than with Vinegar more can be accomplished by being pleasant than by being disagreeable

Accepted Answer

Ask her nicely. Remember, you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. As early as the 1600s people were using different versions of this expression in many European languages. If you've ever had a fly buzzing around your house, you know that it is attracted to sweet things like honey. It doesn't like sour things like vinegar. In the same way, you're more likely to get what you want from people ("catch more flies") by being sweet and agreeable (like honey), rather than bitter and sharp (like vinegar).

Idiom	Catch More Flies with Honey than with Vinegar
Example	Ask her nicely. Remember, you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Meaning	more can be accomplished by being pleasant than by being disagreeable
Origin	As early as the 1600s people were using different versions of this expression in many European languages. If you've ever had a fly buzzing around your house, you know that it is attracted to sweet things like honey. It doesn't like sour things like vinegar. In the same way, you're more likely to get what you want from people ("catch more flies") by being sweet and agreeable (like honey), rather than bitter and sharp (like vinegar).

Catch Flies Honey Vinegar People Sweet Things Nicely