See Also: coax(1)(dictionary)
coax(2)(dictionary)
coax(dictionary)

coax (oh)



[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: cokes 'stupid person' (16-17 centuries)]
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.
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.