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Difference between Soft about someone and Soft on someone

soft about someone—(coll.) sentimentally silly about smb.; in love with a person:

  • He’s too soft about the girl to see her faults.

soft on someone

1. lacking sternness in one’s treatment of smb.; lenient towards a person:

  • Many people think our courts are too soft on violent criminals.

2. = soft about someone:

  • Ernie had an interest in my older sister. He was soft on her. She was quite attractive but not interested in him.

Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase soft with someone— = soft on someone 1:

  • Death penalty uncivilized? Maybe some think being too soft with criminals is the same thing as civility.