It is generally accepted that flattery is bad. For example, when a person is told: “You are beautiful, like a god!” In response, he heard: “Well, you are kidding me, flattery with me will not pass!” But sometimes praise is sincere, although a little embellishing reality. Consider the meaning of the word “flatter” today. Is it always as bad as they say about it?
Meaning
The dictionary offers two meanings:
- To give fake compliments to someone, pursuing selfish interests. For example, a subordinate is courting a boss to get a promotion.
- Pleasure yourself or someone, the satisfaction of any feeling. For example, a large salary flatters pride.
As you can see, flattery is not always something bad. It is insincere only when the speaker wants to appease the object of influence in order to make a profit.
But there are compliments from the heart that do not aim to curry favor. For example, when a guy says something nice to a girl that he likes, he, of course, counts on reciprocity, but at that moment he doesn’t have anything in his head, even he doesn’t remember the meaning of the word “flatter”. The young man is completely surrendered to the power of love.
Synonyms
If we clearly explained that there is flattery on its own, then it will not be so difficult to find replacements for it. Flattering means:
- Embellish reality.
- Make (fake) compliments.
- Amuse yourself (they used to say "flatter yourself with hopes").
- Deceive.
- To appease.
- Slander.
Despite the selection of synonyms, we repeat once again: flattery can do good when distortion of reality is done in order to support a person, to tell him something pleasant. An extraneous complementary opinion about a person can also flatter him, but this does not mean that the statement pursues any purpose or is made intentionally. In other words, the meaning of the word “flatter” is not always necessary to be interpreted negatively.
The fox is a noble cheat
Of course, a textbook example is the Fox from the fable of I.A. Krylova "Crow and the Fox." How she courted Raven, remember? And all just so that the bird, greedy for compliments, would sing and demonstrate its “wonderful voice”, and the Fox Cheat would pick up a delicious cheese and leave. Raven gave a concert already at the "empty hall". The fable shows how much any flattery costs, that is, you do not need to pay attention to compliments, especially if a person is sure that they can pursue some purpose. Did Fox know the meaning of the word “flatter”? Still would! With her ability to manipulate!
Unfortunately, humans are far more skilled liars than beasts. Ordinary animals are much more honest than humans. They never lie, do not deceive, love the owner, if he does not offend them. This man needs fables to understand how to actually behave. It’s good to be educated and know when and how you can flatter. The value of the compliment said on time is difficult to overestimate. Hurry to do good.