soft soap

Short definition from Wiktionary

Noun

1. 1
   Any jellyish soap made by cooking natural oils and fats with potassium hydroxide.
2. 2
   Any fluid or semifluid soap.
3. 3
   Alternative form of soft-soap (“flattery, persuasion”).
4. 4
   Persuasion by means of flattery or pleasing words.

Verb

1. 1
   Alternative form of soft-soap.
2. 2
   To attempt to persuade by flattery or pleasing words; to butter up.