flattery

/ˈflætəri/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈflætəri/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfla-tə-rē/ (ame, mw)

flattery — noun

1. praise that sounds warmer than the speaker truly feels, usually offered to pleas

1.名詞C1
釋義

praise that sounds warmer than the speaker truly feels, usually offered to please someone and gain an advantage.

例句

At lunch, Nadia saw through Omar's flattery and kept her decision.

see through someone's flattery

The intern's flattery of the director made the whole office uncomfortable.

flattery of + person

同義詞
  • compliment

    often sincere and more personal; flattery usually suggests a hidden motive

  • praise

    broader and often honest; flattery sounds less genuine

  • adulation

    stronger and more excessive, often with open admiration

  • sycophancy

    more critical; stresses servile behavior toward powerful people

反義詞
  • honesty

    direct truth instead of strategic praise

  • criticism

    points out faults instead of smoothing someone with praise

文法句型

use flattery to + verb

flattery from + person

flattery of + person

see through + someone's flattery

用法筆記

Usually uncountable. It often appears in phrases that show the target or purpose, and it nearly always suggests praise used as a tactic rather than honest admiration.

常見錯誤

❌He used many flatteries to impress the judge.
✅He used a lot of flattery to impress the judge.
💡this meaning is usually uncountable.