soft (redirected from soft-core)

*soft as a baby's bottom and soft as a baby's backside; *soft as down; *soft as silk; *soft as velvet

Cliché very soft and smooth to the touch. (*Also: as ~.) This cloth is as soft as a baby's bottom. The kitten's fur was as soft as down. Your touch is soft as silk. This lotion will make your skin soft as velvet.

See also: bottom

*soft on someone 

1. Fig. romantically attracted to someone. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) Fred is soft on Martha, I've heard. He looked like he was getting a little soft on Sally.

2. Fig. not severe enough on someone; too easy on someone or a class of people. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; grow ~.) The judge was viewed as being too soft on drug pushers. The cops are soft on speeders in this town.

have a soft spot (in one's heart) for someone or an animal

Fig. to have a fondness for someone, something, or an animal. I have a soft spot in my heart for Jeff. I'll always be his friend. Elaine has a soft spot for kittens.

See also: animal, have, spot

soft answer turneth away wrath

Prov. If you speak softly and meekly to someone who is angry with you, that person will calm down. (Biblical.) It won't do any good for you to yell at John because he yelled at you. Remember that a soft answer turneth away wrath.

See also: answer, away

soft in the head

Fig. stupid; witless. George is just soft in the head. He'll never get away with his little plan. You're soft in the head if you think I'll go along with that.

See also: head

soft money and easy money

money obtained without much effort. Don't become dependent on soft money. In college he got spoiled by soft money—a check from his parents every week.

See also: money

soft sell

a polite attempt to sell something; a very gentle sales pitch. Some people won't bother listening to a soft sell. You gotta let them know you believe in what you are selling. I tried the soft sell, but that didn't work.

See also: sell

soft soap 

1. flattering talk; sweet talk. I don't mind a little soft soap. It won't affect what I decide, though. Don't waste my time with soft soap. I know you don't mean it.

2. (Usually soft-soap.) to attempt to convince someone (of something) by gentle persuasion. We couldn't soft-soap her into it. Don't try to soft-soap her. she's an old battle-ax.

See also: soap

soft touch 

1. a gentle way of handling someone or something. Bess has a soft touch and can bring both sides together. Kelly lacks the kind of soft touch needed for this kind of negotiation.

2. a gullible person; a likely victim of a scheme. John is a soft touch. You can always ask him for a few bucks. Here comes the perfect soft touch—a nerd with a gleam in his eye.

See also: touch

soft-pedal something

to play something down; to de-emphasize something. (Alludes to the soft pedal on the piano, which reduces the volume.) Try to soft-pedal the problems we have with the cooling system. I won't soft-pedal anything. Everyone must know the truth.

walk soft

to be unobtrusive; to be gentle and humble. I try to walk soft and not rock the boat. The guy's a tyrant. He walks soft just to mislead people.

See also: walk

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be an easy/soft touch

if someone is an easy touch, it is easy to persuade them to do what you want them to do Her Dad's an easy touch - he's always giving her money.

See also: easy, touch

be soft on somebody   (old-fashioned)

to be in love with someone I think Conor must be soft on Julie - he keeps sending her cards.

have a soft spot for somebody/something

to feel a lot of affection for someone or something, often without knowing why I've got a real soft spot for Thomas - I just find something about him very appealing.

See also: have, spot

soft in the head  (informal)

stupid or crazy I can't change my mind now, she'll think I've gone soft in the head.

See be an easy touch

See also: head

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soft on something

to not oppose something strongly enough His opponents accused him of being soft on crime because he opposed the death penalty.

Usage notes: often used with crime, and often used in a political context, as in the example