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Flatter vs Coddle - What's the difference?

flatter | coddle |

As nouns the difference between flatter and coddle

is that flatter is a type of set tool used by blacksmiths while coddle is an irish dish comprising layers of roughly sliced pork sausages and bacon rashers with sliced potatoes and onions.

As verbs the difference between flatter and coddle

is that flatter is to compliment someone, often insincerely and sometimes to win favour while coddle is to treat gently or with great care.

As an adjective flatter

is (flat).

flatter

English

Etymology 1

Noun

(wikipedia flatter) (en noun)
  • A type of set tool used by blacksmiths.
  • A flat-faced fulling hammer.
  • A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat strips such as watch springs.
  • Someone who flattens, purposely or accidently. Also flattener.
  • (British, NZ, slang) Someone who lives in a rented flat.
  • Adjective

    (head)
  • (flat)
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) flatteren, . More at (l).

    Verb

    (en-verb) (transitive'' and ''intransitive )
  • to compliment someone, often insincerely and sometimes to win favour
  • * Bible, Proverbs xxix. 5
  • A man that flattereth his neighbour, spreadeth a net for his feet.
  • * Prescott
  • Others he flattered by asking their advice.
  • to enhance someone's vanity by praising them
  • to portray something to advantage.
  • Her portrait flatters her.
  • to convey notions of the facts that are believed to be favorable to the hearer without certainty of the truthfulness of the notions conveyed.
  • coddle

    English

    (wikipedia coddle)

    Verb

    (coddl)
  • To treat gently or with great care.
  • * 1855 , (William Makepeace Thackeray), (The Newcomes) , chapter 10 “Ethel and her Relations” ( ebook):
  • How many of our English princes have been coddled at home by their fond papas and mammas, walled up in inaccessible castles, with a tutor and a library, guarded by cordons of sentinels, sermoners, old aunts, old women from the world without, and have nevertheless escaped from all these guardians, and astonished the world by their extravagance and their frolics?
  • * Southey:
  • He [Lord Byron] never coddled his reputation.
  • To cook slowly in hot water that is below the boiling point.
  • * 1697 , (William Dampier), A New Voyage Round the World , volume 1, page 222 of 1699 edition:
  • It [the guava fruit] bakes as well as a Pear, and it may be coddled , and it makes good Pies.
  • To exercise excessive or damaging authority in an attempt to protect. To overprotect.
  • Synonyms

    * (treat gently) cosset, pamper, posset, spoil * (cook slowly) simmer

    Derived terms

    * mollycoddle

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An Irish dish comprising layers of roughly sliced pork sausages and bacon rashers with sliced potatoes and onions.