Schönreden is a German verb that means to paint things positively despite their reality, akin to sugarcoating. It combines the words for 'nice' and 'talk', literally translating to 'nice-talk'. Unlike genuine praise, schönreden suggests a deliberate concealment of flaws. Common examples include real estate agents describing tiny apartments as 'cosy' or politicians glossing over failures. The term indicates a manipulative way of communication often encountered in various social interactions, from casual conversations to corporate presentations, where the truth is obscured to maintain a favorable image.
Schönreden is a verb that describes the act of trying to paint something in a positive light - regardless of the reality.
While it's perfectly possible to heap deserved praise on something, schönreden implies that you are deliberately concealing flaws and imperfections.
An estate agent may describe a small apartment as a 'cosy' setup, which is a prime example of schönreden.
Schönreden is often levelled at politicians trying to gloss over unkept promises, and CEOs highlighting small wins over huge losses.
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