Usage Note
Flatterie denotes excessive or insincere praise aimed at pleasing someone. The proverb la flatterie est le poison de l'amitié (flattery is the poison of friendship) reflects a cultural wariness toward it. The verb flatter and the agent noun flatteur/flatteuse (flatterer, also an adjective meaning 'flattering') belong to the same family.
Examples
"Il obtient ce qu'il veut par la flatterie."
Natural Translation
He gets what he wants through flattery.
Related Words
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