to make someone more likely to do what you want by being nice to them
His strategy was to soften them up with compliments.
She may soften up if asked nicely.
We are being softened up for an assault.
When it comes to softening up the country for an ID card, the Home Office has been prepared to play a very long game.
softens up
softening up
softened up
There is no origin for this phrasal verb
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