soft soaping
Laying it thick
Soft soaping is flattery or smooth talk intended to persuade or manipulate.
The image comes from soft soap—a liquid or semi-liquid soap gentler than hard bar soap—applied figuratively to coaxing someone with soothing words: Don't try soft soaping me; I know what you're after.
The approach is less aggressive than hard selling but equally calculated.
Flatter to persuade
- complimentsExpressions of admiration
- adulationExtravagant, servile praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- sycophancyObsequious behavior toward authority
blarney · schmoozing · ingratiation · overpraise · smarm · obsequiousness · flannel · eulogizing
Persuading through flattery
- cajolingPersuading through flattery
- coaxingPersuading through gentle persistence
- beguilingCharmingly deceptive
- persuadingInducing belief or action
sweet-talking · smooth-talking · enticing · seduction · charm · finesse · disarming · spinning
sweet-talk
Flatter to persuade
- complimentsExpressions of admiration
- adulationExtravagant, servile praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
sycophancy · blarney · schmoozing · ingratiation · overpraise · smarm · obsequiousness · flannel · eulogizing · pandering
wheedling
Persuading through flattery
- cajolingPersuading through flattery
- coaxingPersuading through gentle persistence
- beguilingCharmingly deceptive
persuading · sweet-talking · smooth-talking · enticing · seduction · charm · finesse · disarming · spinning · snow-job
soft soapingstraight talk
Honest, direct communication
brutal honesty · telling it like it is · speaking frankly · harsh criticism · bluntness
soft soapingharsh criticism
Severe negative judgment
tongue-lashing · dressing down · lambasting · excoriating · berating
soft, soap, softer, softest, softly, soften, softened, softening, softener