What does flattery mean?
Word: Flattery
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Flattery means praise that is more than someone deserves, often given to please them or to get something from them.
Synonyms: praise, sweet talk, compliments, adulation
Antonyms: insult
How do you spell flattery?
Syllables: flat - ter - y
Tricky part: There is a double t in the middle; writing a single t is the slip most pupils make.
Watch out for: flatery, flattry, flaterry
Memory tip: Flattery lays the praise on thick, so give the middle of the word a thick tt.
Idioms and Phrases
- Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery: copying someone shows how much you admire them Example: "When my little brother started combing his hair like mine, Mum said imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."
- Flattery will get you nowhere: sweet words will not make me agree Example: "Telling me my cooking is the best in the world is nice, but flattery will get you nowhere; you still have to wash the plates."
Flattery in a sentence
Example 1: The salesman's flattery made my uncle buy a jacket he did not need.
Example 2: She saw through his flattery at once.
Example 3: A good leader listens to honest advice, not flattery.
Fun Fact
Flatter may come from an Old French word meaning to stroke or caress with the flat of the hand, the way you might calm an animal.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) sincerly
b) comittee
c) flattery
d) neccessary
Show answer
c) flattery. Committee doubles the m, necessary has one c, and sincerely keeps the e of sincere.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
flattery
a) kindness
b) criticism
c) gratitude
d) attention
Show answer
b) criticism. Flattery praises too much; criticism points out faults.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
flatt_r_
a) a, y
b) o, y
c) e, y
d) e, i
Show answer
c) e, y. Flatter gives the e, and the noun simply adds a y.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
telfaryt
a) flattery
b) latterly
c) battery
d) flatten
Show answer
a) flattery. Battery needs a b, latterly a second l, and flatten an n; these eight letters spell flattery.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which remark sounds like flattery?
a) 'Sir, the bus leaves at six this evening.'
b) 'Sir, it has started raining outside.'
c) 'Sir, you are the wisest man in the world.'
d) 'Sir, your left shoe has come untied.'
Show answer
c) 'Sir, you are the wisest man in the world.'
2. In the fable, the fox flatters the crow so that it ____.
a) calls the other crows
b) shares its food with friends
c) flies away to its nest
d) drops the cheese it is holding
Show answer
d) drops the cheese it is holding
