Jemandem Honig um den Mund schmieren
Example: Er versucht, ihr Honig um den Mund zu schmieren, um Gefallen zu gewinnen.
Definition
"Jemandem Honig um den Mund schmieren" means to flatter someone excessively in order to gain favor or manipulate them. It implies insincere praise or compliments aimed at persuading or influencing the person for one's own benefit.
Etymology
The phrase "jemandem Honig um den Mund schmieren" literally translates to 'to spread honey around someone's mouth.' It originates from the idea that honey is sweet and pleasant, symbolizing flattery used to sweeten a person's mood or opinion. Did you know this metaphor reflects the way people use sweetness to win others over?
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"Jemandem Honig um den Mund schmieren" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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butter someone up