coax (someone or something) in(to) (something)
1. To convince or persuade a person or animal to enter something. It takes the promise of many songs and books to coax my kids into going to bed. Good luck coaxing the cat into her carrier—she's been hiding under the bed ever since she heard the word "vet." Rover loves going to the beach, so you'll have no trouble coaxing him into the car.
2. To convince or persuade a person or animal to do something. Come on, see if you can coax her into dancing for us—I hear she's a trained ballroom dancer. Good luck coaxing the cat into going to the vet—she's been hiding under the bed ever since she heard the word "vet." How exactly do you plan to coax the staff into staying late and finishing the project tonight?
coax (someone or something) out of (something)
1. To convince or persuade a person or animal to exit something. Right, like I can coax a teenage boy out of bed before noon on a Saturday! Good luck coaxing the cat out of her carrier at the vet—she's already shaking in terror. Once Rover realizes you're at the beach, you'll have no trouble coaxing him out of the car.
2. To convince or persuade a person or animal to relinquish something. I can't believe I coaxed this vintage lamp out of the guy at the yard sale for only $3! Good luck coaxing the cat out of her favorite seat in the house. Please, you're not coaxing any of this mint condition memorabilia out of me—I know what this stuff is worth!
coax (someone or something) to (do something)
To convince or persuade a person or animal to do something. Come on, see if you can coax her to dance for us—I hear she's a trained ballroom dancer. Good luck coaxing the cat to give up her favorite seat in the house. Right, like I can coax a teenage boy to get out of bed before noon on a Saturday!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
coax (someone or an animal) in (to something)
1. to urge or persuade someone or an animal to go into something. We coaxed the lion into the cage with fresh meat. The teacher coaxed the child into the kindergarten classroom.
2. to urge or persuade someone or an animal into doing something. We coaxed her into singing for us. Janet coaxed the dog into sitting up and begging.
coax (someone or an animal) out of something
1. to urge or persuade someone or an animal to give something up. He almost wouldn't sell it, but I coaxed him out of it. I coaxed the cat out of the canary it was holding in its mouth.
2. to urge or persuade someone or an animal to come out of something. She coaxed the puppy out of the carton. Janet coaxed the child out of the closet with a promise of a piece of cake.
coax someone to do something
to urge someone to do something. The kids coaxed her to let them go swimming. Can I coax you to try some of this pie?
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.