soften up
Erode someone's resistance
To soften up is to weaken resistance before a main effort.
Military forces soften up enemy positions with preliminary bombardment before ground troops advance.
The phrase extends to any preparatory weakening: The sales team softened up the client before the CEO made the pitch.
You might soften someone up with flattery before asking a favor, or soften up tough meat by marinating it.
Persuade by gentle urging
- cajolePersuade through flattery
- charmAttractive personal quality
- win overGain another's support
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
butter up · disarm · warm up · ingratiate · wheedle · schmooze · flatter · prep
Soft, ripe, relaxed
- gentleSoft and kind
- relentCease resistance or severity
- thawReturn to liquid
- warmModerately heated, or friendly
ease · temper · moderate · mollify · calm · soothe · placate · appease
coax
Persuade by gentle urging
sweet-talk · butter up · disarm · warm up · ingratiate · wheedle · schmooze · flatter · prep · prime
mellow
Soft, ripe, relaxed
warm · ease · temper · moderate · mollify · calm · soothe · placate · appease · pacify
weaken
Reduce in strength
strafe · pound · assault · attack · demoralize · wear down · hammer · blitz · batter · pummel
pliable
Capable of bending easily
doughy · malleable · knead · massage · moisten · loosen · work · condition · break in · limbering
- have a heartplease, mercy, pity, have mercy, show mercy