soften up

英 [ˈsɒfn ʌp]

美 [ˈsɔːfn ʌp]

（求助于人之前）讨好，安抚

柯林斯词典

• PHRASAL VERB (求助于人之前)讨好，安抚
  If yousoftensomeoneup, you put them into a good mood before asking them to do something.
  1. If they'd treated you well it was just to soften you up.
     他们要是对你好，也不过是为了讨好你罢了。

双语例句

• First they would "soften up" an island, weakening the resistance by shelling the enemy strongholds with bombs from offshore ships.
  首先他们会“软化”该岛，以离岸船舰发射炮弹摧毁敌人的防线，削弱他们的守卫。
• His face seems to soften up a little.
  他脸色看上去温和点了。
• The navy's job is to go in before the invasion and soften up the beach.
  海军的任务就是在入侵和海滩软化前登陆成功。
• The material has begun to soften up.
  材料开始变软了。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.
  这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。
• The answer-I need to soften myself up ( for half an hour or so) before going to bed.
  答案是，在上床睡觉之前，我会花点时间，大约半小时，来放松自己。
• The way to eat a frozen pear is to first immerse it in cold boiled water. The pear will soon be coated with ice and then soften up gradually.
  吃冻梨要先把它放入凉开水中缓解，刚入水的梨会在表皮上结一层厚厚的冰，不多久就会软化。
• We'll soften you up, I promise you.
  我向你保证，我们会让你老实的。
• All the while, soften her up by telling her how much you admire her dedication or analytical prowess.
  并且你可以通过一直告诉她你有多佩服她的付出和分析能力来让她软化。
• Belgrade did suffer through several days of artillery attacks and three days of aerial bombardment, which served to soften up the Yugoslav capital.
  贝尔格莱德遭受了连续几天的地面炮火和三天的空中轰炸，严重削弱了城防。