Click below to listen to the phrase.
Choose the correct definition a, b or c.
a) to exchange money for favours
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b) to make yourself look younger
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c) to make something more desirable
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If someone is to sweeten the pot, they increase a wager, or make something more desirable. They up the ante.
French translation
adoucir l’affaire, améliorer l’offre
How NOT to translate : *sucrer le pot
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Examples in context
’Oregon lawmakers sweeten the pot for Google Fiber.
Proposed legislation to change property tax assessment for certain telecommunications properties — and possibly make way for Google Fiber Internet in Portland— is moving quickly through the Legislature following a 52-2 approval in the Oregon House.
Senate Bill 611B alters assessment laws and the property tax formula used to determine tax levels on telecommunications companies. Under the existing rules companies, including communications firms, could be assessed on intangible assets, such as the worldwide value of a company.’
Portland Business Journal, 1st April 2015
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’MCX Can Avoid Harm from Its Crawl to Market
The Merchant Customer Exchange’s mobile payment app is developing slower than expected, but the venture has advantages that should allow it to avoid harm from the delay.
And what if MCX could somehow sweeten the pot through its association with Paydiant and its new owner, PayPal, in offering to build those branded wallets for the banks as part of an MCX pact ? That could make a long wait not seem so long after all.’
PaymentSource, 1st April 2015
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Everyday usage
Mary sweetened the pot hoping others would follow suit. This is because she added a bonus package to the retirement scheme.
The restaurant also wants to sweeten the pot. At the end of your meal, you get to flip a coin and call heads or tails. If you call it correctly, your entire bill will be 50 percent off.
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