1.
to be overly friendly to everyone; to try to please all; to spread charm indiscriminately
To act excessively friendly or ingratiating toward everyone around. Often carries a slightly negative nuance, suggesting the friendliness is calculated or insincere.
彼女はいつも愛想を振りまいている。
She is always trying to please everyone.
選挙前になると、政治家は有権者に愛想を振りまく。
Before elections, politicians go around being overly friendly to voters.
みんなに愛想を振りまくのは疲れるから、もうやめたい。
I'm tired of trying to please everyone, so I want to stop.
USAGE:
愛想 means "friendliness" or "amiability" and 振りまく means "to scatter" or "to spread around." The image is of someone scattering charm in all directions, without sincerity. While the behavior described can sometimes be positive (sociable, outgoing), it more often carries a critical or dismissive tone.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- みんなに愛想を振りまく (to try to please everyone)
- 愛想笑いを振りまく (to flash smiles at everyone)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 愛想がいい: to be friendly, amiable — neutral to positive, unlike the slightly negative 振りまく
- 八方美人: a people-pleaser — someone who tries to be liked by everyone, usually pejorative