现实生活中，人人都喜欢听“顺耳”的话，从而也滋生一些“别有目的”的恭维，而这些，我们就称之为“马屁精”。那么，英语中有哪些短语可以用来形容“马屁精；阿谀奉承”呢？
1、sweet talk
sweet 是甜的；talk 是讲话；因此 sweet talk 听起来也就是你想到的意思，实际上也是溜须拍马，或过份的赞扬。sweet talk 可以作为名词，也可以作为动词。
用做动词：
You know, I think my youngest daughter was born with honey in her mouth! She can sweet-talk me into doing just about anything she wants me to do.
你可知道，我想我那小女儿生来嘴巴就甜。她会用甜言蜜语来让我做几乎任何她要我做的事。
这句话中的"was born with honey in her mouth" 直译是：她生来嘴巴里就有蜂蜜；意译为：生来嘴巴甜。
人人都爱听好话，这是人性，但也有一些脑子清醒，不被左右的人。比如下边，这是一个公司的主管在说他手下的一个雇员。
用做名词：
Alex has been working for me over a year. He never misses a chance to say what he thinks I want to hear. He hopes I'll assign him nice jobs and eventually promote him. But I don't buy that kind of sweet talk so I guess he'll be disappointed.
亚历克斯在我手下工作已经一年多。他从来不放过机会说他认为我要听的话。他是希望我指派他好的工作，最后提拔他。但是，我可不吃这套阿谀奉承。我想他会失望的。
2、to butter up someone
butter 这个词指西方人经常吃的黄油。但在这里，butter 用做动词。to butter up someone 并不是真的在某人身上涂黄油，是指对人不寻常地客气，过份地奉承，目的是在于赢得此人的好感，或者是要他给你一种特别的好处。
Harry is working hard to butter up the boss to get that promotion. The funny thing is if he worked as hard at his job as he does at buttering up people, he'd have a better chance to get what he's after.
哈里为了被提升，正在想方设法地对老板拍马奉承。有趣的是，要是他干活也能像他溜须拍马那样下功夫的话，他想得到提升的机会就会更多。
I believe some people are simply born with the talent of buttering up people. Don't you think I haven't tried. I did, but I felt so awkward about flattering people. So I've given up a long time ago.
我相信有的人生来就有拍马奉承的本领。你别以为我没有试过。我试过，但是要我去说那些奉承别人的话，我总觉得很难受。所以，我早就放弃了。