- 1flatter somebody to say nice things about someone, often in a way that is not sincere, because you want them to do something for you or you want to please them Are you trying to flatter me?
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- 2flatter yourself (that…) to choose to believe something good about yourself and your abilities, especially when other people do not share this opinion “How will you manage without me?” “Don't flatter yourself.”
- 3flatter somebody to make someone seem more attractive or better than they really are That color doesn't flatter many people. The scorecard flattered him (= he did not deserve to get such a high score). Idioms
flatter
verbNAmE//ˈflæt̮ər//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they flatter he / she / it flatters
past simple flattered
-ing form flattering
to be pleased because someone has made you feel important or special He was flattered by her attention. I felt flattered at being asked to give a lecture. She was flattered to hear that he had been asking about her. I suppose we should be flattered that he agreed to come at all.
NAmE//ˈflætərər//
nounSee flatter in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: flatter