/ kəʊks; NAmE koʊks/ verb
coax sb (into doing sth) | coax sb (into / out of sth) to persuade sb to do sth by talking to them in a kind and gentle way
SYN cajole :
[ vn ]
She coaxed the horse into coming a little closer.
He was coaxed out of retirement to help the failing company.
She had to coax the car along.
[ v speech ]
'Nearly there,' she coaxed.
[also vn speech ]
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PHRASAL VERBS
- coax sth out of / from sb
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from obsolete cokes simpleton , of unknown origin. The original sense was fondle , hence persuade by caresses or flattery , the underlying sense being make a simpleton of .