butter up; try to establish a connection (for personal gain)
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesverb
to try to establish a connection; to butter up; to cozy up
informalSpecifically refers to actively reaching out to someone with whom one has a distant or no prior relationship, often with the goal of gaining favor, influence, or personal advantage. The action is typically considered insincere, opportunistic, and somewhat socially manipulative.
To secure this project, he buttered up people everywhere by treating them to meals and giving gifts.
I don't like colleagues who rely on currying favor to get promoted.
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He has no real skills, he just knows how to butter people up and use backdoors.
In that kind of environment, it's hard to survive if you don't know how to cozy up to people.
The boss reminded us that in business we should rely on actual ability, not always think about pulling strings.