A: We have a free lecture for clients this weekend, where pre-school education experts will share their expertise in enlightening very young children. Are you interested?

B: When is the lecture?

A: At 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Shall I reserve a seat for you?

B: I’m not sure if this is one of those soft-sell tricks to get me enrolled in an early-education program.

Note: Used either as a noun or verb, this phrase refers to a method of selling based on indirect suggestion or inducement, as compared to “hard sell,” or using the method in business.