flatter
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++flat·ter /ˈflætə $ -ər/ ●○○ verb [transitive] 1 PRAISEto praise someone in order to please them or get something from them, even though you do not mean it 奉承，讨好，向…献媚 Perry would always flatter Mrs. Mitchell by praising her cooking. 佩里常常奉承米切尔太太，称赞她的烹调手艺。► see thesaurus at praise2 SUIT/LOOK GOOD TOGETHERto make someone look as attractive as they can 使〔某人〕显得漂亮 SYN suit That dress really flatters your figure. 那件连衣裙很显你的身材。3 to make something look or seem more important or better than it is 使〔某物〕显得更重要 [更好] Lewis’s novel doesn’t flatter Midwestern attitudes and morals. 刘易斯的小说并没有美化美国中西部人的生活态度和道德观念。4 flatter yourself BELIEVEif you flatter yourself that something is true about your abilities or achievements, you make yourself believe it is true, although it is not 自以为，自信flatter yourself that She flatters herself that she could have been a model. 她自以为原本是可以当模特的。 —flatterer noun [countable]→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
flatter• But, of course, I am sneakily flattered.• I prefer the black to the red because it's more flattering.• I was really flattered by his attentions.• His flattering comments embarrassed her.• Millionaire actresses in major Hollywood films routinely show more flesh in far more flattering fashion.• This was his recital of flattering greetings.• Flatter her a little - tell her she's beautiful.• He agreed to do it because it flattered his ego.• Don't try to flatter me!• Lewis' novel doesn't flatter Midwestern attitudes and morals.• This is a spotlight that is as harsh and cruel to the loser as it is flattering to the victor.Origin flatter (1100-1200) Old French flater “to move the tongue against, flatter”flat·ter verbChineseSyllable
someone in them or Corpus please to praise order to
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flatter
flat‧ter /ˈflætə $ -ər/
verb [transitive]
Perry would always flatter Mrs. Mitchell by praising her cooking.
2. to make someone look as attractive as they can
SYN suit:
That dress really flatters your figure.
3. to make something look or seem more important or better than it is:
Lewis’s novel doesn’t flatter Midwestern attitudes and morals.
4. flatter yourself if you flatter yourself that something is true about your abilities or achievements, you make yourself believe it is true, although it is not
flatter yourself that
She flatters herself that she could have been a model.
—flatterer noun [countable]
▪ praise to say that you admire and approve of someone or something, especially publicly: The film was praised by the critics when it first came out. | The report praises staff in both schools. | It’s important to praise children.
▪congratulate to tell someone that you think it is good that they have achieved something: I congratulated him on his success. | The government should be congratulated for what they have achieved.
▪compliment to say to someone that you like how they look, or you like something they have done: She complimented me on my new hairstyle. | He complimented my cooking.
▪flatter to praise someone in order to please them or get something from them, even though you do not mean it: He had persuaded her to buy it by flattering her and being charming. | You’re just flattering me!
▪rave about something (also enthuse about something formal) to talk about something you enjoy or admire in an excited way, and say that it is very good. Rave is rather informal, whereas enthuse is much more formal and is used mainly in written English: Everyone is raving about the movie. | She enthused about the joys of motherhood.
▪applaud formal to publicly praise a decision, action, idea etc: Business leaders applauded the decision. | A spokeperson applauded the way the festival had been run.
▪commend formal to praise someone or something, especially officially: After the battle, Andrew Jackson commended him for ‘his courage and fidelity’. | The officers should be commended for their prompt action.
▪hail somebody/something as something especially written to describe someone or something in a way that shows you have a very good opinion of them, especially in newspapers, on television reports etc: The book was hailed as a masterpiece. | Journalists and music writers hailed the band as ‘the next big thing’. | He is being hailed as the new James Dean.
flat‧ter /ˈflætə $ -ər/
verb [transitive] Date: 1100-1200
Language: Old French
Origin: flater 'to move the tongue against, flatter'
1. to praise someone in order to please them or get something from them, even though you do not mean it:Language: Old French
Origin: flater 'to move the tongue against, flatter'
2. to make someone look as attractive as they can
SYN suit:
3. to make something look or seem more important or better than it is:
4. flatter yourself if you flatter yourself that something is true about your abilities or achievements, you make yourself believe it is true, although it is not
flatter yourself that
—flatterer noun [countable]
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