IdiomFood & Drink
English
EnglishTo butter someone up
Meaning: To flatter someone to win their favor.
Example: “He's been buttering up his parents all week because he wants the car on Saturday.”
Origin: Possibly from an ancient Indian custom of throwing butter at statues of the gods to seek their goodwill.
Equivalents in other languages
Chinese: 拍马屁 (pāi mǎpì) Literally: To pat the horse's rump
Korean: 비행기를 태우다 (bihaenggireul taeuda) Literally: To put someone on an airplane
Polish: podbijać bębenka Literally: To beat the drum
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