softening-up

Huddersfield wasted no time in this, adding to the softening-up.

Lee Clark busy fashioning bullets for Huddersfield Town's promotion push 2011

The rumourmill has concluded that a "softening-up" process was underway, but perhaps not....

Eurozone crisis live: Merkel offers UK olive branch as euro slides again - 14 December 2011 2011

I have always felt it right to defend the referee against a lynch mob, especially when attacks became a softening-up tool for clubs to protect their interests.

Hardline defence of referees is a symptom of failure | Paul Hayward 2011

That will be the conclusion of my next chapter; but my strategy first will be to continue the softening-up process, to ease the passage towards understanding of natural selection.

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH RICHARD DAWKINS 2009

Roses tell the same story as dogs, but with one difference, which is relevant to our softening-up strategy.

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH RICHARD DAWKINS 2009

That will be the conclusion of my next chapter; but my strategy first will be to continue the softening-up process, to ease the passage towards understanding of natural selection.

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH RICHARD DAWKINS 2009

Roses tell the same story as dogs, but with one difference, which is relevant to our softening-up strategy.

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH RICHARD DAWKINS 2009

Willes has succeeded in boosting profits, share price and circulation, but also presided over what many regard as a softening-up of the paper.

Look Out, The Boss Is Back 2008

I've previously explained that the latter techniques constitute a form of psychological softening-up preparatory to interrogation, which itself can then be conducted in traditional, "rapport-building" ways.

APA on the Road to Damascus? 2007

And, so, it has been a gradual softening-up of those Hezbollah positions, as the Israeli Defense Ministry calls them, before the Israeli soldiers go in.

CNN Transcript Aug 9, 2006 2006