1.
to roll up, to crumple, to ball up
To make something round or ball-shaped by rolling, crumpling, or curling it.
紙を丸めて捨てた。
I crumpled up the paper and threw it away.
猫が体を丸めて寝ている。
The cat is sleeping curled up in a ball.
粘土を手で丸めて、小さな玉を作った。
I rolled the clay with my hands and made small balls.
2.
to smooth over, to talk someone into agreement
To persuade or manipulate someone through smooth talk, or to settle a matter by glossing over details.
うまく丸め込まれた。
I was smooth-talked into it.
彼は口がうまくて、いつも相手を丸める。
He's a smooth talker and always talks people around.
営業マンに丸め込まれて、高いものを買ってしまった。
The salesperson talked me into buying something expensive.
丸める has both a physical and figurative meaning.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS (physical):
- 紙を丸める (crumple paper)
- 体を丸める (curl up one's body)
- 背中を丸める (hunch one's back)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS (figurative):
- 丸め込む (talk someone into something, sweet-talk)
- うまく丸める (smooth things over)
The compound 丸め込む is very common for the figurative meaning and has a slightly manipulative nuance.