soften up

vb (adverb)

1. to make or become soft

2. (Military) (tr) to weaken (an enemy's defences) by shelling, bombing, etc

3. (tr) to weaken the resistance of (a person) by persuasive talk, advances, etc

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Translations

forcer

w>soften up

vt sep

(lit) → weich machen

(fig) person, opposition → milde stimmen; (by flattery etc) → schmeicheln (+dat); customer → kaufwillig stimmen; (by bullying) → einschüchtern, weichmachen; enemy, resistance → zermürben; enemy position → schwächen; prisoner → weichmachen

vi (material) → weich werden; (person, attitude) → nachgiebiger werden; to soften up on somebody → jdm gegenüber nachgiebig or schwach werden

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

References in periodicals archive

MINISTER James Reilly Sinn Fein's Caoimhghin O Caolain said leaks about the Budget were designed to soften up the public for more health cuts.

What is certain is that the deliberate leaks are designed to soften up public opinion in an effort to prepare people for the worst in the hope that cuts short of the worst may appear more palatable."

HEALTH CUTS ARE KILLERS; Patients' body warns lives could be lost

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