softening up
Wearing down resistance
Softening up is preparing someone or something to be more receptive or vulnerable.
You might soften up a negotiator with flattery before making demands, or soften up enemy defenses with artillery before an infantry assault.
The phrase implies strategic groundwork: He spent weeks softening her up before asking for the loan.
- underminingWeakening by covert means
- soakSaturate with liquid
- warmingIncreasing in temperature
- warming upPreparing body for exertion
- primingMaking ready beforehand
paving the way · coaxing · winning over · persuasion · playing nice · brainwashing · demoralizing · attrition · destabilizing · loosening · relaxing · disarming · influencing · placating · conditioning · reassuring · mollifying · grooming
- gunfireshoot, gunshot, artillery fire, fire, gunfire
- relaxation techniquesdeep relaxation, relaxing, muscle relaxation, body scan, body warmth
softening upblitz
Swift, overwhelming offensive
ambush · shock and awe · storming · rushing · diving in
softening upcutting to the chase
Proceeding to essentials immediately
straight talk · strong-arming · bulldozing · browbeating · pressuring
softening uphardening
Becoming less soft
toughening up · fortifying · stiffening · solidifying · strengthening
soft, soften, softened, softening, softens, softly, softness, softer, softest