
Soften up
Persuasion Strategy
Used in contexts where someone is trying to gradually convince others, often subtly.

The CEO's speech was designed to soften up the board for the upcoming changes.
Emotional Preparation
It suggests preparing someone emotionally for something that is about to happen.

They used compliments to soften up the crowd before announcing the bad news.
Strategic Timing
Indicates timing is key; the phrase is often about laying groundwork ahead of time.

The team meetings were to soften up employees to the idea of restructuring.
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension