How to Use butter up in a Sentence

butter up

verb

• Ben spends the afternoon buttering up Ellie and praising her cake-icing skills, and even gives her the task of decorating the wedding cake.
  — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
• As the lots rolled by, Mosoff watched quietly, still fortified by the exclusive tasting laid on to butter up bidders prior to the action.
  — Charlie Campbell, Time, 25 May 2026
• These packages, which often run into thousands of dollars, attract many celebrities and corporate buyers who see the Games as a chance to butter up clients or reward top performers.
  — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
• The preview for The Muppet Show reveals special guest Sabrina Carpenter buttering up Miss Piggy backstage.
  — Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
• Yet, this will take a great deal of finesse, including pushing through a bill in parliament by buttering up Lord Hawthorne (Hugh Bonneville), who is willing to trade his vote for a night out with Susie’s brother, Jack (Harry Goodwins).
  — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026