flatter
/ˈflætə(r)/verb
with obj.
1- lavish insincere praise and compliments upon (someone), especially to further one's own interests（尤指为获更多的私利而）吹捧, 对（人）滥用溢美之词; 奉承, 讨好, 谄媚：
she was flattering him in order to avoid doing what he wanted.
为了不遂他心愿, 她对他大肆吹捧。
1.1
- give an unrealistically favourable impression of失真地美化：
the portraitist flatters his sitter to the detriment of his art.
这位肖像画家过度美化他的模特儿, 结果反倒损害了自己的艺术。
1.2
- （一般作be flattered）make (someone) feel honoured and pleased使感到荣幸：
with obj. and infinitive I was very flattered to be given the commission能被委以此任, 鄙人不胜荣幸
with obj. and clause at least I am flattered that you don't find me boring.你不嫌我烦, 我就足以感到无比荣幸了。
1.3
flatter oneself
make oneself feel pleased by believing something favourable about oneself, typically something that is unfounded（尤指没理由地）自以为是：with clause I flatter myself I'm the best dressed man here.我自认是此处穿着最体面的人。
1.4
- (of a colour or a style of clothing) make (someone) appear more attractive or to the best advantage（服装的颜色或款式）能突显某人的优点, 美化：
the muted fuchsia shade flattered her pale skin.
这种柔和的紫红色调美化了她苍白的皮肤。
1.5
- archaic please (the ear or eye)〈古〉悦（耳）; 悦（目）：
the beauty of the stone flattered the young clergyman's eyes.
宝石的芳华让那位年轻教士大饱眼福。
派生词
flatterer
noun词源
Middle English: perhaps a back-formation from FLATTERY.