coax

coax
coax [kəuks US kouks] v [T]
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: cokes 'stupid person' (16-17 centuries)]
1.) to persuade someone to do something that they do not want to do by talking to them in a kind, gentle, and patient way
▪ 'Please, Vic, come with us,' Nancy coaxed.
coax sb into/out of (doing) sth
▪ We had to coax Alan into going to school.
coax sb to do sth
▪ We watched the bear coax its cubs to enter the water.
coax sb down/out/back etc
▪ Firefighters managed to coax the man down from the roof.
2.) to make something such as a machine do something by dealing with it in a slow, patient, and careful way
coax sth out of/from/into etc sth
▪ He coaxed a fire out of some dry grass and twigs.
▪ The driver coaxed his bus through the snow.
>coaxing n [U]
▪ She needs a bit of gentle coaxing.
>coaxingly adv
coax out of/from [coax sth out of/from sb] phr v
to persuade someone to tell you something or give you something
▪ I managed to coax some money out of Dad.

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • coax — [ kouks ] verb transitive 1. ) to gently persuade someone to do something: After dinner Lily was coaxed into singing several songs. It took some time, but we were finally able to coax him out of quitting. a ) if you coax something out of someone …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Coax Me — Single by Sloan from the album Twice Removed Format CD single 7 Genre Indie rock …   Wikipedia

  • coax — [kōks] vt. [orig. slang, “to make a coax of” < obs. slang coax, cox, cokes, a fool, ninny] 1. to induce or try to induce to do something; (seek to) persuade by soothing words, an ingratiating manner, etc.; wheedle 2. to get by coaxing vi. to… …   English World dictionary

  • coax — 1580s, originally in slang phrase to make a coax of, from earlier noun coax, cox, cokes a fool, ninny, simpleton (1560s); modern spelling is 1706. Origin obscure, perhaps related to COCK (Cf. cock) (1). Related: Coaxed; coaxing …   Etymology dictionary

  • coax — coax, cajole, wheedle, blandish mean to use ingratiating art in persuading or attempting to persuade. Coax implies gentle, persistent efforts to induce another or to draw what is desired out of another {in a coaxing voice, suited to a nurse… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • coax´er — coax «kohks», transitive verb. 1. to persuade by soft words; influence by pleasant ways: »She coaxed her father to let her go to the dance. SYNONYM(S): wheedle, cajole, inveigle, entice. 2. to get by coaxing: »The nurse coaxed a smile from the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Coax — (k[=o]ks; 110), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Coaxed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Coaxing}.] [Cf. OE. cokes fool, a person easily imposed upon, W. coeg empty, foolish; F. coquin knave, rogue.] To persuade by gentle, insinuating courtesy, flattering, or fondling; to …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Coax — Coax, n. A simpleton; a dupe. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • coax — I verb allure, appeal, attract, bait, blandish, bribe, cajole, captivate, convince, encourage, engage, enlist, ensnare, entice, evoke, exert pressure, exhort, hominem permulcere, homini blandiri, impel, incite, induce, influence, insist, inspire …   Law dictionary

  • coax — [v] persuade allure, argue into, armtwist*, barter, beguile, blandish, blarney, butter up*, cajole, come on, con, decoy, entice, flatter, get, hook, importune, induce, influence, inveigle, jawbone*, lure, pester, plague, press, prevail upon, rope …   New thesaurus

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