sof·ten up
phrasal verbsoften somebody up (informal)
- to try to persuade somebody to do something for you by being very nice to them before you ask them
打动；诱导；拉拢 - Potential customers are softened up with free gifts before the sales talk.
谈生意之前，先送给潜在的客户一些赠品，以联络感情。
- Potential customers are softened up with free gifts before the sales talk.
- to make an enemy weaker and easier to attack
削弱，瓦解（敌人力量）