verb · to plead on behalf of another person to dissuade an authority from taking punitive action

幸亏他在老板面前替我缓颊，我才没被开除。

verb · to urge reconciliation or smooth over a conflict between parties to ease a tense situation

眼看两人就要吵起来了，他赶紧出面缓颊，化解了尴尬。