flatters

When someone flatters another person, they are usually laying on the compliments a bit too thick. It is the act of saying nice things—sometimes true, sometimes not—to make someone feel good so that they will like you more or grant you a favor.

Think of it as a social tool. While it can be a genuine way to show appreciation, it often carries a negative connotation of being manipulative or 'sucking up.' You might see a student who constantly tells the teacher how brilliant their lecture was, hoping to get a better grade. That student is definitely flattering the teacher.

On the flip side, we use the word in a completely different way when talking about fashion or art. If a dress flatters your figure, it means it makes you look great. In this sense, it is not about manipulation, but about highlighting the best parts of something.

The word flatter has a fascinating history that dates back to the 13th century. It comes from the Old French word flater, which meant 'to stroke' or 'to caress.' This makes perfect sense when you think about it: just as you might stroke an animal to calm it or make it happy, you 'stroke' a person's ego with kind words.

Over time, the meaning shifted from a physical action (stroking) to a verbal one. By the late Middle Ages, it had firmly taken on the meaning of using smooth, insincere talk to influence someone. It is closely related to Middle Dutch vladeren, which meant to flutter or flap, suggesting that the words being spoken are light, airy, and perhaps not very substantial.

It is interesting to note how many words for 'praise' in European languages have roots in physical touch. It reminds us that language is deeply connected to our human need for connection and physical affirmation, even when that affirmation is being used for a slightly sneaky purpose.

In daily conversation, you will often hear people say that someone is flattering themselves. This is a common idiom meaning they believe they are better or more important than they actually are. For example: 'He flatters himself if he thinks he's the best player on the team.'

When using it to describe appearance, you will often hear it in phrases like 'that color flatters your skin tone' or 'the cut of the coat flatters his frame.' This is a very positive, neutral usage that is common in retail, fashion, and social settings.

The register of the word is generally neutral, but it leans toward the formal when used in literature. In casual speech, you might prefer to say 'sucking up' or 'buttering someone up,' which are much more informal ways to describe the same behavior. Always be careful when using it to describe a person's actions, as it can sound like an accusation of dishonesty.

1. Flatter to deceive: This means to appear better than something actually is, leading to disappointment later. Example: The team's early success flattered to deceive, as they lost every game afterward.

2. To flatter oneself: To hold an overly high opinion of one's own abilities. Example: You flatter yourself if you think she likes you that much.

3. Butter someone up: A colloquial way to describe the act of flattering someone to get a favor. Example: I need to butter my boss up before I ask for a raise.

4. Lay it on thick: To flatter someone excessively. Example: He really laid it on thick when he met the CEO.

5. Sing someone's praises: To speak very highly of someone, which can be a form of genuine or manipulative flattery. Example: She spent the whole meeting singing his praises to the board.

Flatters is the third-person singular present form of the verb flatter. It follows standard English conjugation rules. The base form is used with 'I,' 'you,' 'we,' and 'they,' while 'flatters' is used with 'he,' 'she,' and 'it.'

In terms of pronunciation, the IPA for the word is /ˈflætərz/. The stress is placed on the first syllable. A common mistake for learners is to pronounce the 'a' sound like a long 'a' (as in 'fate'); however, it should be the short 'a' sound, as in 'cat.' Rhyming words include batters, chatters, scatters, platters, and matters.

Grammatically, it is a transitive verb, meaning it requires an object. You don't just 'flatter'; you 'flatter someone.' It is rarely used in the passive voice in casual speech, though you might hear 'she was flattered by the attention,' which uses the past participle as an adjective to describe a feeling of being pleased by praise.