be (as) soft as butter

1. To be very easily dented, molded, or cut. Compared to harder metals like iron or steel, gold is basically about as soft as butter. Cook the tenderloin for four hours at a low temperature until the meat is soft as butter. This clay is soft as butter—very easy to work with.

2. To be completely lacking in courage, conviction, or resolve. The new manager won't stand up to anyone—he's soft as butter. The player accused his opponent of being soft as butter during the press meeting. I don't care if Julia suspects us—she's soft as butter and won't say anything to the cops.