How do you say “Butter someone up” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is jemandem Honig ums Maul schmieren, which literally means “to smear honey around someone's mouth”. English speakers use butter someone up to mean to praise someone because you want them to do something for you. “Maul” is a rough word for mouth. Use a softer alternative in polite work emails. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural German
jemandem Honig ums Maul schmieren
/ˈjeːmandəm ˈhoːnɪç ʊms maʊl ˈʃmiːʁən/
- Literal meaning
- “to smear honey around someone's mouth”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
91 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
German swaps butter for honey. “Maul” is a rough word for mouth, so the expression suits teasing between friends better than a polite work email.
A softer version uses “um den Mund.” “Schmeicheln” is more neutral, but include the favour or request if the praise has a hidden purpose.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity3 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in German?
jemandem schmeicheln
Literally: “to flatter someone”
A more neutral verb; explain the motive if it matters.
sich bei jemandem einschmeicheln
Literally: “to win someone's approval”
Emphasises trying to win someone's goodwill.
In context
English
You're buttering me up because you want a favour.
German
Du schmierst mir Honig ums Maul, weil du einen Gefallen willst.
English
He buttered up his boss before asking for time off.
German
Er schmeichelte seinem Chef, bevor er um freie Tage bat.
Related expressions
- What “Butter someone up” means in English
- Pull the wool over someone's eyes, Deceive someone or conceal the truth.
- Pull someone's leg, To tease someone playfully.
Last updated 2026-09-16