subs. (common).—Fulsome flattery; unctuous praise; SOFT SOAP (q.v.): Hence as verb TO EMPTY THE BUTTER BOAT = to flatter fulsomely; to indulge in rhodomantic praise; to SOFT-SAWDER (q.v.); Fr. cirer: also BUTTERING-UP.
1700. CONGREVE, The Way of the World, prol. (1866), 259. The squire that’s BUTTERED still is sure to be undone.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary. TO BUTTER signifies also to cheat or defraud in a smooth and plausible manner.
1816. SCOTT, The Antiquary, xxxviii. Keep him employed, man, for half-an-hour or so—BUTTER him with some warlike terms—praise his dress and address.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, 40.
| For, knowing how, on Moulsey’s plain, | |
| The champion fibb’d the poet’s nob, | |
| This BUTTERING-UP against the grain, | |
| We thought was curs’d genteel in Bob. |
1823. Blackwood’s Magazine, XIV., 309. You have been daubed over by the dirty BUTTER of his applause.
1839. LEVER, Harry Lorrequer, xii. He first BUTTHERS them up and then slithers them down!
1837. A. TROLLOPE, The Three Clerks, i. The quantity of BUTTER which he poured over Mr. Hardline’s head and shoulders with the view of alleviating the misery which such a communication would be sure to inflict, was very great.
1857. C. KINGSLEY, Two Years Ago, iii. vii. I’ll BUTTER him, trust me. Nothing comforts a poor beggar like a bit of praise when he’s down.
1880. World, 13 Oct. A lavish interchange of compliments, the BUTTER being laid on pretty thick.
1884. The Saturday Review, 5 July, 27, 1. The Lord Chief Justice of England made a tour through America, and generously BUTTERED the natives.
1901. Free Lance, 14 Dec., 272, 1. Speaking of my book, you say that I fall back on ‘the chance offence of a critic that no amount of BUTTER or ointment can soothe.’
1902. Pall Mall Gazette, 19 Sept., 7, 1. The Mayor was dined by his friends in grateful recognition of his continuance in office at a critical juncture. Having been duly toasted and BUTTERED, he returned thanks. ‘Gentlemen,’ he said, ‘I rejoice that you have assembled in such large numbers to pay honour to whom honour is due.’
Verb (old).—1. JAMIESON says, ‘to increase the stakes every throw or every game.’
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. BUTTER, c. to double or treble the Bet or Wager to recover all Losses.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. BUTTER A BET, to double or triple it.
2. See subs.
TO KNOW ON WHICH SIDE ONE’S BREAD IS BUTTERED (or OUGHT TO BE SPREAD), verb phr. (old).—To recognise one’s interests.
1637. BRETON, A Speedy Post and a Packet of Letters. For I have of late heard much talk (but to little purpose) of him: Some say he is a very wise man for he knows ON WHICH SIDE OF HIS BREAD TO SPREAD HIS BUTTER: others say he is a good man, for his word will be taken with the best in the town.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. BUTTER,… He knows on which side his Bread is BUTTER’D, or the Stronger side, and his own Interest.
TO LOOK AS IF BUTTER WOULD NOT MELT IN ONE’S MOUTH, a contemptuous saying, of persons of simple demeanour.
1475. Les Evangiles des Quenouilles—Vme Journée. Edition Elzévirienne. Paris (1855), 72. A cette parolle mist dame Mehault ses mains à ses costez et en grant couroux luy respondy que, etc., et que, Dieu merci, aincoires FONDOIT LE BURRE EN SA BOUCHE, combien qu’elle ne peust croquier noisettes, car elle n’avoit que un seul dent.
1530. PALGRAVE, 620, 1. He maketh as thoughe BUTTER WOLDE NOT MELTE IN HIS MOUTH.
1538. LAMBERT [FOXE, VI., 37]. [Gardiner cares not to talk] as BUTTER WOULD NOT MELT IN HIS MOUTH.
1546. HEYWOOD, Proverbs. She LOOKETH AS BUTTER WILL NOT MELT IN HER MOUTH.
1562. LATIMER, Sermon on the Lord’s Prayer, V., ii., 79. These fellows … can speak so finely, that a man would THINK BUTTER SHOULD SCANT MELT IN THEIR MOUTHS.
1687. SEDLEY, Bellamira, iv. 1. Sil. He look’d so demurely, I thought BUTTER WOU’D NOT HAVE MELTED IN HIS MOUTH, I hope you will make sure work with him before you send him again.
1738. SWIFT, Polite Conversation, i. She LOOKS AS IF BUTTER WOULD NOT MELT IN HER MOUTH, but I warrant cheese won’t choak her.
1824. SCOTT, St. Ronan’s Well, xxviii. (III., 26). I am beginning te think ye are but a queer ane, ye LOOK AS IF BUTTER WANDA MELT IN YOUR MOUTH, but I sall warrant cheese no choak ye.
1850. THACKERAY, Pendennis, I., 149. Telling her landlady how … the Mayor was … a nice, soft-spoken old gentleman; that BUTTER WOULD’NT MELT IN HIS MOUTH, etc.
WILL CUT BUTTER WHEN IT’S HOT, phr. (common).—Said of a knife when blunt.
NO BUTTER WILL STICK ON HIS BREAD, phr. (old).—See quot.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. BUTTER,… NO BUTTER WILL STICK ON HIS BREAD, nothing thrives or goes forward in his Hand.
BUTTER AND EGGS, phr. (common).—Going down a slide on one foot, and beating with the heel and toe of the other at short intervals: cf. quot. 1836.
[1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, II., 9. Sam Weller, in particular, was displaying that beautiful feat of fancy sliding which is currently denominated ‘knocking at the cobblers’ door,’ and which is achieved by skimming over the ice on one foot, and occasionally giving a two-penny postman’s knock upon it, with the other.]
1862. Macmillan’s Magazine, Jan., 238. And I can do BUTTER-AND-EGGS all down the slide…. The feat of BUTTER-AND-EGGS consists in going down the slide on one foot, and beating with the heel and toe of the other at short intervals.
