🇩🇪German Source WordCode: DE

Schmeichelei

Pronunciation / Transliteration: Schmeichelei

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Flattery/ˈflæt.ər.i/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #4500 frequency
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🇩🇪 Example Sentence in German:

"Sie war immun gegen seine billigen Schmeicheleien."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

1 sense
As noun
  1. 1

    Excessive and insincere praise, especially given to further one's own interests.

    "He used subtle flattery to win the approval of his boss."

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Synonyms (2)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from Middle English 'flaterie', from Old French 'flaterie', based on the verb 'flater' meaning 'to caress, stroke, or flatter', likely of Germanic origin related to Old Norse 'flata' (to make flat). Over time, the meaning evolved from smoothing down physically to figuratively smoothing over someone's ego with excessive and often insincere praise.

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