SOFT-SOAP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does soft-soap mean? 

• SOFT-SOAP (verb)
  The verb SOFT-SOAP has 2 senses:

1. persuade someone through flattery

2. use flattering talk on somebody

  Familiarity information: SOFT-SOAP used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SOFT-SOAP (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they soft-soap    ... he / she / it soft-soaps   
Past simple: soft-soaped   
Past participle: soft-soaped   
-ing form: soft-soaping   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Persuade someone through flattery

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "soft-soap" is one way to...):

blarney; cajole; coax; inveigle; palaver; sweet-talk; wheedle (influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They soft-soap him into writing the letter

Sense 2

Meaning:

Use flattering talk on somebody

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "soft-soap" is one way to...):

blandish; flatter (praise somewhat dishonestly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue soft-soap

 Context examples 

So passed Sunday, and Monday morning he was hard at work, sorting clothes, while Joe, a towel bound tightly around his head, with groans and blasphemies, was running the washer and mixing soft-soap.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Martin washed woollens that day, by hand, in a large barrel, with strong soft-soap, by means of a hub from a wagon wheel, mounted on a plunger- pole that was attached to a spring-pole overhead.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)