Basic Details
Word: Flatter
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To praise someone more than is true, often to please them or to get something from them. A photo that flatters you makes you look better than usual.
Synonyms: praise, compliment
Antonyms: insult, criticise, belittle
How to Spell Flatter
Syllables: flat - ter
Tricky part: There are two t's in the middle, and the word ends in -er. A single t (flater) is the commonest mistake.
Watch out for: flater, flattar, flattor
Memory tip: Inside flatter is flat. Keep the t of flat and add another one before er: flat + t + er.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Don't try to flatter me; just tell me what you broke.
Example 2: The salesman kept flattering my uncle to sell him a costly watch.
Example 3: That green kurta really flatters you.
Fun Fact
In Aesop's fable of the fox and the crow, the fox flatters the crow about her lovely voice; when she opens her beak to sing, the cheese she was holding drops straight to the fox.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of 'flatter' as it is used in the sentence:
The shopkeeper tried to flatter my aunt by saying the saree made her look like a film star.
a) praise
b) persuade
c) compliment
d) insult
Show answer
d) insult. Flattering someone pleases them with praise; an insult does the reverse.
Word Cookie
Fill in the blanks with the correct letters:
fl_tt_r
a) a, e
b) e, a
c) e, e
d) a, a
Show answer
a) a, e. Spot the word flat at the start, which fixes the a; the ending is -er, as in chatter.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word:
1. reccomend 2. hygeine 3. flatter 4. maintainance
a) to praise someone too much, often insincerely
b) keeping yourself and your home clean to stay healthy
c) the work of keeping something in good repair
d) to suggest something as good or suitable
Show answer
a) to praise someone too much, often insincerely. Maintenance has no ai after the t, hygiene puts i before e after the g, and recommend doubles the m, not the c.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Someone who flatters you is mainly trying to ____.
a) teach you
b) warn you
c) please you
d) frighten you
Show answer
c) please you
2. 'The camera flatters him' means his photos make him look ____.
a) better than he really does
b) exactly as he looks
c) smaller than he really is
d) older than he really is
Show answer
a) better than he really does
