# charm offensive

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/charm-offensive
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- The politician started a charm offensive to win more votes.
- After the bad press, the company launched a charm offensive to regain the trust of its customers.
- The diplomat initiated a calculated charm offensive, hoping to soften the opposition's stance before the final treaty negotiations began.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.