English Reference
Idiom idiom

charm offensive


A campaign of deliberately using charm and flattery in order to achieve some goal, especially in a political or diplomatic field.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

The politician started a charm offensive to win more votes.

CONTEXTUAL

After the bad press, the company launched a charm offensive to regain the trust of its customers.

COMPLEX

The diplomat initiated a calculated charm offensive, hoping to soften the opposition's stance before the final treaty negotiations began.


Related idioms4entries
  1. 01

    charm the birds from the trees

    To behave in a very charming manner.

  2. 02

    charmed life

    A life in which one is always lucky and safe from danger.

  3. 03

    prawn cocktail offensive

    a strategy of the Labour Party in winning over important people in the world of finance

  4. 04

    take the offensive

    To attack instead of defending; to be bold and proactive.

Last updated August 10, 2026