Example: Je moet niet altijd iemand naar de mond praten om populair te zijn.
Definition
"Iemand naar de mond praten" means to say what someone wants to hear, often to please them or gain favor, rather than to express one's true opinion. For example, it involves flattering or agreeing with someone insincerely to be liked or accepted.
Translations
to tell someone what they want to hear
dar la razón por interés
donar la raó per interès
aller dans le sens de quelqu'un
jemandem nach dem Mund reden
adulare
bajular alguém
Etymology
The phrase "iemand naar de mond praten" literally translates to 'talking to someone's mouth' in Dutch. It originates from the idea of speaking directly into someone's mouth to please them, symbolizing flattery or telling someone what they want to hear rather than the truth.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Iemand naar de mond praten" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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to tell someone what they want to hear