Differences between feel up and soften up
Feel up means to touch someone in a sexual way without their consent, while soften up means to make something softer or more pliable.
Meanings and Definitions: feel up vs soften up
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
Feel up
- 1Touch sexually, grope.
Someone FELT me UP in the club as I was trying to get to the bar.
Soften up
- 1Weaken.
defenses; I think we can move in tomorrow.
- 2Do things to please someone in the hope that they will do what you want.
I paid for everything to SOFTEN them UP before they made the decision.
Usage Examples: feel up, soften up in Sentences
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
feel up
Example
He tried to feel up the woman at the party, but she pushed him away.
Example
She feels up her partner when they are alone.
soften up
Example
The negotiator tried to soften up the opposing party before the meeting.
Example
She softens up the butter before baking cookies.
Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Feel up
grope
To touch someone in a sexual way without their consent.
Example
She reported him to the police for groping her at the party.
harass sexually
To repeatedly make unwanted sexual advances or comments towards someone.
Example
She filed a complaint against her boss for sexually harassing her at work.
Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Soften up
loosen up
To make something less tight or rigid.
Example
He had to loosen up the screws to fix the wobbly table.
To make meat more tender by pounding or marinating it.
Example
She used a meat mallet to tenderize the steak before grilling it.
Differences in feel up vs soften up: Usage, Formality, and Tone
Frequency in Daily Use: feel up or soften up?
Neither feel up nor soften up are commonly used in everyday conversation. However, soften up is more likely to be used in casual settings when discussing physical objects or materials, while feel up is not appropriate for any context due to its inappropriate and offensive nature.
Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of feel up and soften up
Soften up is a neutral phrase that can be used in both formal and informal contexts. On the other hand, feel up is an extremely informal and offensive phrase that should never be used in any setting.
Tone and Implication: The Nuances of feel up and soften up
The tone of feel up is always inappropriate and offensive, and it can cause discomfort or harm to the person being touched. The tone of soften up can vary depending on the context. It can be practical when discussing materials or gentle when referring to a person's emotional state.
