How Do You Spell BUTTER UP?

Pronunciation: [bˈʌtəɹ ˈʌp] (IPA)

The spelling of the phrase "butter up" may seem a bit odd at first glance, but it actually makes perfect sense when you break it down phonetically. The IPA transcription for "butter" is /ˈbʌtər/, with a short "u" sound followed by the "t" and "r" consonant sounds. The "up" portion of the phrase is simply pronounced as it appears in IPA, with an /ʌp/ sound. So when spoken together, "butter up" is wonderfully smooth and easy to say, just like the act of buttering something up!

BUTTER UP Meaning and Definition

1. The phrase "butter up" is an informal, idiomatic expression that typically refers to the act of using excessive flattery or praise to gain favor or manipulate someone for personal gain or advantage. It can also mean to be overly complimentary or ingratiating towards someone in order to win their affection or approval.

   When someone "butters up" another person, they often employ various tactics such as complimenting their appearance, skills, or achievements, showering them with excessive praise, or offering favors and gifts in an attempt to influence or manipulate the recipient. This phrase is commonly used in social, professional, or interpersonal contexts when someone wants to get on another person's good side or secure a favorable outcome.

   The origin of this expression can be traced back to the idea of spreading butter on bread or a similar food item. Similar to how butter is spread to enhance the flavor, individuals may "butter up" others in order to enhance their relationship or position. By using flattery and exaggerated compliments, the person hopes to create a positive opinion or impression with their targeted individual.

   However, it is important to note that the term "butter up" can sometimes carry a negative connotation as it implies insincerity and manipulation. It is often used to describe tactics that are considered to be deceitful or are aimed at achieving personal gain rather than genuine appreciation or friendship.

Common Misspellings for BUTTER UP

• vutter up
• nutter up
• hutter up
• gutter up
• bytter up
• bhtter up
• bjtter up
• bitter up
• b8tter up
• b7tter up
• burter up
• bufter up
• bugter up
• buyter up
• bu6ter up
• bu5ter up
• butrer up
• butfer up
• butger up
• butterup

Etymology of BUTTER UP

The phrase "butter up" is believed to have originated in the early 19th century, although its exact etymology is not fully known.

One theory suggests that "butter up" comes from an old English custom of applying butter to one's face as a way to flatter or please someone. It was believed that the smooth, soft texture of butter would make someone more agreeable or receptive to persuasion.

Another theory suggests that the phrase comes from the concept of "buttering" a horse's mouth to make it more receptive to the bit. This involved applying butter or a similar substance to the horse's gums, making the bit more comfortable and easing the process of training or control. Over time, this idea of greasing or softening something to make it more manageable gradually extended to human interactions.

The exact origin of "butter up" remains uncertain, and it is possible that it is a combination of multiple influences.

Idioms with the word BUTTER UP

• butter up To "butter up" someone means to flatter or praise them in order to gain favor or approval, often with the intention of getting something in return.

Similar spelling words for BUTTER UP

• rug beater,
• anchovy butter,
• Pieter Brueghel,
• car battery,
• heroic poetry,
• Genus Pouteria,
• bitter pecan,
• automobile battery,
• powder technique,
• BEITR PLASMAPHYS,
• butter cookie,
• brown butter,
• Peter Kropotkin,
• butter-and-egg man,
• Peter Weir,
• bread butter,
• takes powder,
• Petra Nemcova,
• Pedro Almodovar,
• powder snow,
• peter out,
• Peter Handke,
• take powder,
• Peter Goldman,
• better oneself,
• Peter Farrelly,
• bitter pignut,
• made bitter,
• Peter Finch,
• buttercup,
• drawn butter,
• powder barrel,
• Colbert Butter,
• Peter Chernin,
• a battery,
• Ruth Pitter,
• butter daisy,
• Peter Garrett,
• flea powder,
• Peter MacKay,
• soap powder,
• Peter Green,
• Peter Marshall,
• powder compact,
• Meuniere Butter,
• composition powder,
• BYTE PTR,
• Peter Bart,
• Peter Brimelow,
• Bitter spar,
• clarified butter,
• after-shave powder,
• butter sauce,
• powder monkey,
• face powder,
• making bitter,
• Bittor Bittour,
• Peter Gallagher,
• bitter hickory,
• Peter Brook,
• shrimp butter,
• electrical battery,
• Peter Schuyler,
• flashlight battery,
• piedra nostras,
• Peter Banks,
• carpet beater,
• snail butter,
• Petra Kelly,
• feel bitter,
• bitter enemies,
• Peter O'Toole,
• Pietra dura,
• Pietro Mascagni,
• powder barrels,
• butter churn,
• powder keg,
• Peter Berger,
• making better,
• butterfield,
• Peter Bergman,
• Peter Abelard,
• Peter Benchley,
• butter dish,
• batter down,
• butterfat,
• bitter cup,
• scrubbing powder,
• midshipmans butter,
• bath powder,
• butter in,
• IND LACKIER-BETR,
• Peter Erskine,
• Peter Singer,
• Peter Conrad,
• Vincent's powder,
• Peter Brock,
• Peter Gabriel,
• petri dish,
• Genus Petteria,
• Bunsen's battery,
• potter wheel,
• Peter Jennings,
• went better,
• bitter principle,
• Douglas Bader,
• butter fingered,
• butter knife,
• most butter-fingered,
• pouter pigeon,
• baby powder,
• lemon butter,
• PITTURE VERN,
• Peter Storey,
• Peter Mandelson,
• Stephen Potter,
• Peter Boyle,
• talcum powder,
• Peter Ueberroth,
• egg beater,
• pitter pattered,
• Peter Coyote,
• better sorts,
• did better,
• Peter Gay,
• FERTIGUNGSTECH BETR,
• Peter Munk,
• Peter Arno,
• smokeless powder,
• make bitter,
• bitter dock,
• got better,
• bitter chocolate,
• battery pack,
• peanut butter,
• Peter Goldmark,
• epic poetry,
• peter pan,
• witches' butter,
• Sedlitz powder,
• peter i,
• solar battery,
• Peter Berg,
• bitter end,
• nut butter,
• butter-print,
• Peter York,
• butter spreader,
• piedra ponsona,
• Genus Pterois,
• Peter Sutcliffe,
• potter around,
• Peter Behrens,
• WERKSTATT BETR,
• electric battery,
• potter clay,
• battery acids,
• batter cakes,
• storage-battery grid,
• liking better,
• Peter Buffett,
• bitter enemy,
• Peter Cushing,
• butter bean,
• Floating battery,
• apple butter,
• likes better,
• Peter Benenson,
• Peter Sotos,
• potter earth,
• masked battery,
• powder-post termite,
• Peter Drucker,
• Susan Powter,
• Peter Tosh,
• Peter Tchaikovsky,
• potter bee,
• PETR ETH,
• bitter enders,
• butter ine,
• Butterbaugh,
• Peter Porter,
• Peter Lynch,
• bitter lemon,
• Peter Hall,
• do better,
• built-soap powder,
• lead-acid battery,
• quartz battery,
• Peter Bogdanovich,
• Jesuits powder,
• Pedro Martinez,
• Peter Sellers,
• Rochelle Powder,
• Peter Krause,
• la Patrie,
• WORD PTR,
• like better,
• butter nut,
• dover's powder,
• Peter King,
• N.C.I. powder,
• Potter Stewart,
• Peter Hain,
• Peter Hook,
• getting better,
• Peter Stuyvesant,
• puff batter,
• midshipman butter,
• does better,
• Peter Asher,
• doest better,
• Jephson's powder,
• straw boater,
• Peter Carey,
• better part,
• Petri dishes,
• DPC-PTR Act,
• Peter Pace,
• BTRY CP,
• Peter Bondra,
• Peter Stormare,
• powder magazine,
• bitter cups,
• blue peter,
• Irene Peter,
• baking-powder biscuit,
• Peter Fonda,
• pancake batter,
• for better,
• powder photography,
• putter around,
• Peter McWilliams,
• Peter Yarrow,
• bitter cress,
• powder trains,
• Pouteria Zapota,
• Peter Weiss,
• Peter DeFazio,
• Dennis Potter,
• Peter Agre,
• voltaic battery,
• faradic battery,
• chili powder,
• Peter Greene,
• AU PTR,
• powder flask,
• Peter Greenaway,
• Goa Powder,
• Peter Snell,
• c battery,
• batter cake,
• makes better,
• Peter Thomson,
• Peter Stone,
• battery acid,
• Peter Nelson,
• better half,
• Peter Lorre,
• tooth powder,
• Peter Camejo,
• most powder,
• butterflower,
• Dom Pedro,
• Tullys Powder,
• bitter aloes,
• gat better,
• Water battery,
• scouring powder,
• magnetic battery,
• potter field,
• makes bitter,
• potter fields,
• Peter Buck,
• pitter patter,
• felt bitter,
• butterfish,
• pitter pattering,
• Seidlitz Powder,
• most pewter,
• had better,
• Peter Ackroyd,
• oleum petrae,
• insect powder,
• Arabia Petraea,
• Peter Ruric,
• potter earths,
• bitter water,
• Peter Malkin,
• stamp battery,
• gray powder,
• becoming better,
• Petteria Ramentacea,
• Knox's powder,
• bread-and-butter pericardium,
• Peter Utley,
• bitter salts,
• Peter Falk,
• battery cables,
• II Peter,
• liked better,
• putter, potter,
• Pyotr Tchaikovsky,
• dry battery,
• electric beater,
• powder magazines,
• assault battery,
• Bercy Butter,
• become better,
• cocoa powder,
• most bread-and-butter,
• better parts,
• powder-down feathers,
• Simon Peter,
• Quercus Petraea,
• Peter Shilton,
• more powder,
• Peter Criss,
• Peter Abrahams,
• Peter Steele,
• bitter pea,
• get better,
• became better,
• green pottery,
• Peter Hobson,
• Peter Tork,
• aspirin powder,
• Peter Minuit,
• more butter-fingered,
• Tully's powder,
• Pieter Breughel,
• Seldlitz powder,
• not...anything better/worse,
• better thought,
• better sort,
• Peter Warlock,
• Peter Matthiessen,
• going better,
• BADR AIR,
• bitter almond,
• baking powder,
• fruit butter,
• butter-bean plant,
• gets better,
• powder snows,
• blasting powder,
• Peter Westbrook,
• doeth better,
• Peter Ustinov,
• powder metallurgy,
• powder method,
• Peter Max,
• James's powder,
• butterfly,
• pater patriae,
• powder horn,
• Sancho pedro,
• Peter Orszag,
• bitter cassava,
• Ulan Bator,
• goes better,
• explosive powder,
• onion butter,
• Walter Pater,
• bitter apple,
• gotten better,
• becomes better,
• medicinal powder,
• secondary battery,
• more pewter,
• Sachet Powder,
• nickel-iron battery,
• battery charger,
• Bitter Gourd,
• Peter Seeger,
• Pietro Aretino,
• more bread-and-butter,
• patter, pitter-patter,
• Beatrix Potter,
• Peter Mayhew,
• joy powder,
• go better,
• feels bitter,
• doing better,
• better thoughts,
• sales patter,
• pottery oven,
• Peter Dawson,
• Peter Townsend,
• powder train,
• pitter patters,
• butterbean,
• yak butter,
• Bitter Floom,
• saint peter,
• Powder Springs,
• dusting powder,
• cosmetic powder,
• Peter Medawar,
• pimento butter,
• toilet powder,
• Vulcan powder,
• Pieter Zeeman,
• Henry Peter,
• better materially,
• Peter Davison,
• Peter Akinola,
• took powder,
• storage battery,
• Peter Fraser,
• Peter Minnewit,
• doth better,
• Hufeland's powder,
• St. Peter,
• Peter Latham,
• powder blue,
• Tom Petri,
• Peter Scott,
• POWDER MET,
• potter wasp,
• butter milk,
• Peter Lombard,
• aromatic powder,
• Peter Jurasik,
• fritter batter,
• make better,
• Peter Forsberg,
• galvanic battery,
• Daniel Petrie,
• better places,
• cocoa butter,
• powerful batter,
• bitter ender,
• Peter Shaffer,
• Peter Hammill,
• astringent bitter,
• butterbur,
• washing powder,
• Atlas powder,
• butterball,
• wet battery,
• curry powder,
• bleaching powder,
• Peter Allen,
• bitter pill,
• carob powder,
• bitter tonic,
• powder room,
• shot putter,
• Jonathan Potter,
• Peter Cooper,
• garlic butter,
• better off,
• dost better,
• Peter Barnes,
• Peter Arnett,
• bitter orange,
• made better,
• powdery mildew,
• powder store,
• Peter Noone,
• didst better,
• orris butter,
• milk powder,
• Peter Cook,
• taking powder,
• headache powder,
• Bitter Betch,
• Peter Wright,
• batter bread,
• Peter Oliver,
• midshipman's butter,
• cocaina powder,
• battery cable,
• go pitter-patter,
• Peter Bichsel,
• better place,
• Peter Cetera,
• Peter Straub,
• Peter Jackson,
• lobster butter,
• feeling bitter,
• b battery,
• butter fly,
• Butter Yellow,
• Peter Fenn,
• taken powder,
• I Peter,
• Biddery ware,
• butter cup,
• Double pedro,
• Pieter Bruegel.

Conjugate verb Butter up

CONDITIONAL

I would butter up

you would butter up

he/she/it would butter up

we would butter up

they would butter up

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be buttering up

you would be buttering up

he/she/it would be buttering up

we would be buttering up

they would be buttering up

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have butter up

you would have butter up

he/she/it would have butter up

we would have butter up

they would have butter up

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been buttering up

you would have been buttering up

he/she/it would have been buttering up

we would have been buttering up

they would have been buttering up

FUTURE

I will butter up

you will butter up

he/she/it will butter up

we will butter up

they will butter up

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be buttering up

you will be buttering up

he/she/it will be buttering up

we will be buttering up

they will be buttering up

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have buttered up

you will have buttered up

he/she/it will have buttered up

we will have buttered up

they will have buttered up

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been buttering up

you will have been buttering up

he/she/it will have been buttering up

we will have been buttering up

they will have been buttering up

IMPERATIVE

you butter up

we let´s butter up

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to butter up

PAST

I buttered up

you buttered up

he/she/it buttered up

we buttered up

they buttered up

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was buttering up

you were buttering up

he/she/it was buttering up

we were buttering up

they were buttering up

PAST PARTICIPLE

buttered up

PAST PERFECT

I had buttered up

you had buttered up

he/she/it had buttered up

we had buttered up

they had buttered up

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been buttering up

you had been buttering up

he/she/it had been buttering up

we had been buttering up

they had been buttering up

PRESENT

I butter up

you butter up

he/she/it butters up

we butter up

they butter up

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am buttering up

you are buttering up

he/she/it is buttering up

we are buttering up

they are buttering up

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

buttering up

PRESENT PERFECT

I have buttered up

you have buttered up

he/she/it has buttered up

we have buttered up

they have buttered up

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been buttering up

you have been buttering up

he/she/it has been buttering up

we have been buttering up

they have been buttering up