subs. (common).—1. Flattery: also SOFT-SOAP: cf. SOFT-SAWDER. As verb. = to flatter; TO CARNEY (q.v.); SOAPY = smooth-tongued.
1843. MICHAEL WALSH, Speech [Niles’ National Register, 23 Sept.]. I am tired of this system of placemen SOFT-SOAPING the people.
1855. REV. E. BRADLEY (‘Cuthbert Bede’), The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman. The tailor and robe-maker … visibly ‘SOAPED’ our hero in what is understood to be the shop-sense of the word.
1856. WHITCHER, The Widow Bedott Papers, 308. Ye don’t ketch me a slanderin’ folks behind their backs and then SOFT-SOAPIN’ ’em to their faces.
1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, xxxiii. He and I are great chums, and a little SOFT-SOAP will go a long way with him.
1865. DICKENS, Dr. Marigold. These Dear Jacks SOAP the people shameful, but we Cheap Jacks don’t.
1876. DIPROSE, Laugh and Learn. Flattery is the confectionery of the world. In polite society it goes by the name of ‘SOAP,’ and in general is designated ‘soft sawder.’
1900. DELANNOY, “£19,000,” xxiii. ‘Mrs. Depew, you’re the most sensible woman I’ve ever met.’ ‘None of your SOFT SOAP now!’
2. (old).—Money: generic: spec. secret service money. As verb. = to bribe.
1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, I. iv. Well, Reefer, how are you off for SOAP?
1884. Boston [Mass.] Globe, 7 Oct. ‘Sinews of war,’ and ‘living issues,’ ‘SOAP,’ and other synonyms for campaign boodle are familiar.
1885. C. L. NORTON, Political Americanisms, in The Magazine of American History, xiii. April, 394. SOAP.—Originally used by the Republican managers during the campaign of 1880, as the cipher for ‘money’ in their telegraphic despatches. In 1884 it was revived as a derisive war cry aimed at the Republicans by their opponents.
3. (Royal Military Academy).—Cheese.
