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Buttering the cat 

This term began to appear after the December 2021 viral Reddit post "AITA for “perpetuating ethnic stereotypes” about Jorts?" on r/AmITheAsshole by u/ThrowawayOrangeCat about a conflict involving two cats at their workplace. The cats are named Jean and Jorts, and to cut a long story short, a human colleague named Pam had been spreading margarine on Jorts to encourage him to groom himself. (Presumably he would like the taste and spend more time licking it off.) It's unclear whether Jorts responded to this, because Jean began to lick his fur -- this upset her digestive system. Pam was asked to stop applying margarine to Jorts. Readers shared the post to social media, and people began posting memes and jokes about the situation.

Later that month, #DisabilityTwitter used the situation as an analogy, to address whether a particular accommodation is useful. (Implied: even if it's well-intentioned, if it's not helpful to the person with needs, it wastes time and may actually have negative impacts. Just like applying margarine to Jorts.)
"Are you helping, or are you just buttering the cat?" (from #DisabilityTwitter)

A person may want to help resolve a difficult situation, but realizes that they lack the necessary skills and would just make things worse: "I'd love to help, but at this point I suspect I'd just be buttering the cat ..."
Buttering the cat by TapirTrouble December 21, 2021

Buttering 

It's the opposite of a roast. While people in a roasting event would gather up to make fun of a single person, a buttering event has people gather up to adore, praise, and talk good about that person. Sometimes, it's extended to include everyone, so that each person has a chance to receive a variety of compliments. You can't talk bad about someone at a buttering event. The worst you can get to talking bad about someone is constructive criticism, guidence, and maybe a compliment sandwhich.
Coworker 1: Hey. Have you heard that the Coolerman and The Boss were feeling sad lately

Coworker 2: Yeah. They were feeling underappreciated, lonely, and unconfident.

Coworker 3: I have an idea! Let's have a buttering.

Coworker 1 and Coworker 2: That's a great idea!

Coworker 1: That way, they would feel more appreciated.

Coworker 2: A buttering event sounds perfect!

* later that day.

All: Surprise!!!

Coolerman and The Boss: This is so unexpected!

Coworker 7: Coolman is so awesome, he helped me with some paperwork

Coworker 5: The Boss is so cool, he gave me a day off when I was feeling sick.

Coworker 8: Coolman is so fantastic, he helped organize my daughter's birthday party.

Coworker 9: The Boss and Coolman are so cool, they're indestructable!
ect.
Buttering by HawiianPunch1 February 15, 2014

buttering up 

giving unnecessary goods/complements/sex to someone to get on their good side for manipulation purposes.
I found myself buttering up my friend the ranger, with funny pictures, before he would even think of buying the hat.
buttering up by ~exo November 27, 2013

Justening 

When someone has the power to always be late
"That kid is always Justening, he is never early"
Justening by Larry Cabbage June 24, 2016

Buttering the Cat 

In the disability rights community: attempting to help someone without asking if they need help, or in a way that is not actually helpful (and indeed may be harmful to the disabled person or to others).

Comes from a viral Twitter thread featuring Jorts the orange cat who was having trouble grooming himself. A well meaning but clueless human buttered Jorts in an attempt to teach him how to groom himself. This may or may not have resulted in a different cat being sick from licking the butter off of Jorts.
"Hey, don't just grab my chair; that's buttering the cat!"

"Stop buttering the cat, tonight's homework is easy!"
Buttering the Cat by philhellenike December 22, 2021

buttering up the whisker biscuit 

I buttered up her whisker biscuit and then I laid some pipe.
More from Urban Dictionary

Surf Dracula Syndrome 

A phenomenon in film/television series, most notably streaming series, where the main premise is drawn out to such a point that it takes an entire season or more to get the parts of the series the audience is actually interested in seeing.

For example, if a series is titled "Surf Dracula," a majority of viewers would tune in expecting to see Dracula surfing by the first or second episode. However, the entire first season would instead be tedious padding and backstory before finally ending with Dracula surfing in the last five minutes of the season finale.
I watched "Smallville" on Netflix the other day. Dude, it was ten seasons of filler before he finally flew! Major Surf Dracula Syndrome!
Word of the Day on October 24, 2026

Northstarring

Finding your way back to the truth by fixing on one verified fact and working out from there, the way you navigate by the North Star when everything around you is spinning.
Rumours were flying everywhere, so she went northstarring — one checked fact at a time.
Northstarring by Light Bearer October 22, 2026
Word of the Day on October 23, 2026

Plate of Brown 

A plate of brown consists of foods that have little to no nutritional value, and are typically deep fried. A true plate of brown will also be accompanied by a dark soda.
Wanna go to meal hall & grab a plate of brown?
Plate of Brown by Cheddar Craigson September 18, 2020
Word of the Day on October 22, 2026

Larpenomics

When finance content creators rent out fancy cars and flex cash to seem richer than they really are in order to promote and sell their “get rich quick” courses.
Andrew Tate has mastered the field of larpenomics
Larpenomics by Rbois09 October 21, 2026
Word of the Day on October 21, 2026

Palmela Handerson 

Your hand that you masturbate with.
Girlfriend: What are you going to do for the next week while I'm on holiday?

Boyfriend: Have a visit from Palmela Handerson of course!
Word of the Day on October 20, 2026
Basically the same meaning as ate.
x:"Girl your fit chewed today!"
Chewed by iod1o March 30, 2022
Word of the Day on October 19, 2026
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