好词典
flatter
UK //ˈflætə(r)//US //ˈflætər//
词源
源自中古英语 'flateren'，可能来自古法语 'flater'，意为‘抚摸’或‘讨好’，最终可能源自日耳曼语系。
verb
❶ 通过赞美或奉承使某人感到高兴或自豪，通常带有讨好或获取好处的目的。
“She flattered him by saying he looked much younger than his age.”
（她奉承他说他看起来比实际年龄年轻很多。）
“The boss flattered his employees to boost their morale.”
（老板奉承员工以提振他们的士气。）
❶ 使某物看起来比实际更好或更有吸引力，常用于描述照片或绘画。
“This dress really flatters your figure.”
（这条裙子真的很显你的身材。）
“The lighting in the room flattered her complexion.”
（房间的灯光让她的肤色看起来更好。）
同义词:compliment, praise, adulate, butter up, fawn
常见短语
flatter oneself — 自以为是地认为某事属实，通常带有贬义，表示某人高估了自己或某种情况。
“He flattered himself that he was the best candidate for the job.”
（他自以为是这份工作的最佳人选。）
flatter to deceive — 表面看起来很好，但实际上令人失望或不如预期。
“The team's strong start flattered to deceive—they lost in the end.”
（球队的开局强势只是假象，他们最终还是输了。）