He was laying on the flattery with a trowel.

他在一个劲儿地拍马屁。

I handed the trowel back to him.

我将泥刀交还给他。

He told her that she was his favourite author and that she deserved the Nobel Prize for literature.He really laid it on with a trowel.

他对她说,她是自己最喜欢的作家,还说她应该获得贝尔文学奖。他实际上是在恭维她。