coaxing

Everyday

1. Gently persuading someone to do something by being kind, patient and pleasant. tree →
2. (adjective) Gentle and persuading: «a coaxing voice». tree →
3. Getting something to work or move by careful, gentle handling: «coaxing a fire to light». tree →

In the lessons

In stories, characters coax shy animals out of hiding, or coax a friend to come along; the Rat coaxes the homesick Mole and the Badger coaxes Toad to give up cars. In everyday life: coaxing a cat out from under the bed with treats. Phrases: «with a bit of coaxing», «coax someone into/out of».

Examples

• After a lot of coaxing, the kitten came out from under the sofa. tree →
• She spoke in a coaxing voice. tree →
• The Rat was coaxing the Mole to tell his trouble. tree →
• It took some coaxing to get my brother into the cold sea. tree →
• Dad was coaxing the old car to start. tree →
• With gentle coaxing, the shy pupil read her poem aloud. tree →
• The Mouse did not need much coaxing, for he was very anxious to see the world and everything in it. tree →

Note

Said «KOH-ksing». «Coax» rhymes with «hoax». Coaxing is gentle; forcing or bullying is not coaxing.