lay it on thick
Pile on compliments
To lay it on thick is to exaggerate praise, flattery, sympathy, or emotion beyond what's warranted: He was really laying it on thick with the compliments.
The expression suggests applying something liberally, like paint or butter—too much to be believable.
It can describe insincere flattery or overwrought displays of feeling: She laid it on thick about how sorry she was.
Flatter insincerely for advantage
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
- complimentWords expressing approval
- praiseExpression of approval
- charmAttractive personal quality
ingratiate · fawn · gush · adulation · flattery · blandishment · schmooze · soft-soap
butter up
Flatter insincerely for advantage
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
- complimentWords expressing approval
- praiseExpression of approval
charm · ingratiate · fawn · gush · adulation · flattery · blandishment · schmooze · soft-soap · brown-nose
embellish
Add decorative elements
inflate · overplay · stretch · hyperbole · overemphasize · blow out of proportion · overdraw · embroider · elaborate · magnify
- flatteryflatter, praise, flattery, compliment, compliments
- showing offboasting, bragged, show off, bragging, boasted
lay it on thickunderstate
Express with restraint
downplay · undersell · minimize · soft-pedal · tone it down
thick, thicken, thickness, layers, laying, layered, layering, thickening, thickens