Translation guide
To flatter or praise someone, often with the intention of gaining a favor or advantage.
To say nice things to someone in order to get them to do something for you or to like you.
The most direct equivalent, meaning to flatter or butter up. Often used in the phrase おだてに乗る (to be susceptible to flattery).
He buttered up his boss and got a promotion.
Literally 'to take someone's mood', meaning to curry favor or butter someone up, often by being especially nice or giving compliments.
Means to lift up or to flatter/praise excessively. Often used when someone is being buttered up with exaggerated compliments.
A colloquial onomatopoeic expression for flattering or sucking up to someone, often with a sense of insincere praise.
To pay a compliment or say flattering things, often with the implication that it's not entirely sincere. More neutral than 'butter up' but can be used in similar contexts.
Do not translate 'butter up' literally as バターを塗る (to spread butter). That would be completely misunderstood.
おだてる focuses on flattery and praise to manipulate someone, while ご機嫌を取る is broader and includes actions to improve someone's mood or gain favor, not necessarily through words alone.
He's just buttering you up to borrow money.
I got buttered up and ended up accepting the task.
She buttered up the teacher and got her grades raised.
He's always buttering up the department head.
That salesperson buttered up the client and got the contract.
He tried to butter her up by paying her compliments.
おだてても無駄だよ。
Don't try to butter me up; it won't work.