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# flattery

noun (flattery — uncountable)

«flattery» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

Flattery is praise that is too much or not sincere, often given to please someone or to get something from them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flattery/#m1)

### In the lessons

In stories and fables, flattery is a trick: in Aesop's fable the fox flatters the crow so it drops its cheese. In ethics lessons, flattery is different from honest praise. In everyday talk, «flattery will get you nowhere» is a joking reply to compliments. Common phrases: «flattery will get you nowhere», «empty flattery», «imitation is the sincerest form of flattery», «use flattery».

### Examples

- The fox used flattery to trick the crow into singing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flattery/#x1)
- «Flattery will get you nowhere,» laughed Mum when I said she was the best cook in the world. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flattery/#x2)
- The courtiers covered the king in flattery. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flattery/#x3)
- Honest praise is better than flattery. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flattery/#x4)
- She saw through his flattery straight away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flattery/#x5)
- Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, people say. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flattery/#x6)
- He tried flattery to get an extra biscuit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flattery/#x7)
- Do not let flattery throw you off your guard against an enemy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flattery/#x8)

### Note

Uncountable. The verb is «flatter» (to praise too much, or to make someone look better than real: that photo flatters you). «Flattering» clothes make you look nice. «I'm flattered» means «I'm pleased by your kind words». Do not confuse with «flatten» (make flat).

## In Jewish tradition

In stories and fables, flattery is a trick: in Aesop's fable the fox flatters the crow so it drops its cheese. In ethics lessons, flattery is different from honest praise. In everyday talk, «flattery will get you nowhere» is a joking reply to compliments. Common phrases: «flattery will get you nowhere», «empty flattery», «imitation is the sincerest form of flattery», «use flattery».

### Examples

- He that denounceth his friends for the sake of flattery, even the eyes of his children shall fail. (Writings JOB.17.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/flattery/#x1)

### Note

Uncountable. The verb is «flatter» (to praise too much, or to make someone look better than real: that photo flatters you). «Flattering» clothes make you look nice. «I'm flattered» means «I'm pleased by your kind words». Do not confuse with «flatten» (make flat).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «flattery» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flattery/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«flattery» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/flattery.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «flattery» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/flattery/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«flattery» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/flattery.html) on Mova free.