flatter

英 ['flætə(r)] 美 ['flætər]

奉承，讨好；使高兴，使感到荣幸；使显得更漂亮；使（某物）显得更重要（更好）

CET6 考研 GRE

◉Etymology

单词“flatter”意为“恭维”或“奉承”，其词源来自于中世纪法语和古英语。

古法语：源自古法语动词“flater”，意为“轻拍”或“抚摸”，这个词的使用可以追溯到大约13世纪。

古英语：在古英语中，“flaterian”意为“抚摸”或“拍打”，可能与古法语的用法有关。

这些词汇原本的意思与“flatter”的现代用法有所不同，但它们都涉及到一种感官上的愉悦感或触感，这与现代的“恭维”含义相辅相成。

◉外刊例句

The New York Times (2023)"Politicians are often accused of flattery when they make promises they have no intention of keeping."政治家们常被指责为奉承，当他们做出无意兑现的承诺时。The Guardian (2022)"The art critic was known for his ability to flatter the artists he admired without ever compromising his integrity."这位艺术评论家以他的能力而闻名，他能够在不损害自己的诚信的情况下，奉承他所钦佩的艺术家。The Economist (2021)"The report suggests that consumers are easily flattered by discounts and special offers."报告表明，消费者很容易受到折扣和特别优惠的奉承。

◉经典名著

“Flatter”在经典文学作品中通常用于描述虚伪的恭维或奉承。

简·奥斯汀（Jane Austen）的《傲慢与偏见》（Pride and Prejudice）“Mr. Collins was so easily flattered by his own self-importance that he could hardly contain his satisfaction.”“柯林斯先生被自己的自负轻易地奉承得几乎无法掩饰他的满足感。”

◉Usage Examples

(1) Friends who flatter you to your face are not true friends.

(2) He flattered her about her cooking.

(3) It's impossible for you to ask a girl to teach you how to flatter another.

(4) This photograph flatters you.

(5) The picture certainly doesn't flatter her.

(1) 凡是当面奉承你的朋友不是真朋友。

(2) 他恭维她的烹调手艺。

(3) 你不可能让一个女孩教你如何取悦另一个女孩。

(4) 这照片比你本人漂亮。

(5) 这张照片当然不及她本人好看。

◉Usage Notes

When you flatter someone, you praise and compliment him or her — but you aren't totally sincere. You flatter your friend by telling her she's the best driver in the world. Because you want her to offer you a ride.

The Old French flater originally meant "to stroke or caress," which is what you do to people's egos when you flatter them. When you flatter, you probably want something — it could be as simple as wanting someone to like you. That's why people who meet celebrities tell them they're the greatest. More positively, if your hairstyle flatters your face, it emphasizes your best features.

◉Colins

1. [VERB 动词]向…谄媚；奉承；讨好 If someone flatters you, they praise you in an exaggerated way that is not sincere, because they want to please you or to persuade you to do something. [V n] [V n into -ing] [disapproval]

I knew she was just flattering me.

我知道她只是在恭维我。

...a story of how the president flattered and feted him into taking his side.

有关总统如何恭维并盛宴款待他、让他站到自己一边的故事

2. [VERB 动词]自认为；自以为是 If you flatter yourself that something good is the case, you believe that it is true, although others may disagree. If someone says to you 'you're flattering yourself' or 'don't flatter yourself', they mean that they disagree with your good opinion of yourself. [V pron-refl that] [V pron-refl]

I flatter myself that this campaign will put an end to the war...

我自认为这次战役将结束这场战争。

I flatter myself I've done it all rather well...

我认为自己已经做得相当好了。

You flatter yourself. Why would we go to such ludicrous lengths?

你真自以为是。我们为什么要费那么大的力气?

3. [VERB 动词]See also:flat；flattered；flattering；使显得更漂亮 If something flatters you, it makes you appear more attractive. [V n] [V]

Orange and khaki flatter those with golden skin tones...

橘黄色和卡其色能衬托那些金黄色皮肤的人。

My philosophy of fashion is that I like to make clothes that flatter

我的时尚理念就是我喜欢做让人穿着更显漂亮的衣服。