/ ˈflætə(r); NAmE / verb
1.
[ vn ] to say nice things about sb, often in a way that is not sincere, because you want them to do sth for you or you want to please them :
Are you trying to flatter me?
2.
flatter yourself to choose to believe sth good about yourself and your abilities, especially when other people do not share this opinion :
[ vn ]
'How will you manage without me?' 'Don't flatter yourself.'
[also vn ( that )]
3.
[ vn ] to make sb seem more attractive or better than they really are :
That colour doesn't flatter many people.
The scoreline flattered England (= they did not deserve to get such a high score) .
► flat·ter·er / ˈflætərə(r); NAmE / noun
•
IDIOMS
- be / feel flattered
- flatter to deceive
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : perhaps a back-formation from flattery .