Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to cajole, to flatter, to sweet talk.

1834		W.A. Caruthers Kentuckian in N.Y. I 189: He doesn’t honey it up to ’em, and mince his words.
1853		A. Doten Journals (1973) I 168: [We tried] to honey up to some of the squaws, but couldn’t come it.
1908		DN 3.321: Honey. . . To seek to display obsequious or fondling actions. ‘Don’t come honeyin around me.’ Also with up. ‘She honeyed him up till she got what she wanted.’ [DARE].
1917		E. de Pue Hattie in Mayorga (1919) 433: It’s pretty late to come honeyin’ round me now.
1935		J. Conroy World to Win 233: The little snot thinks he’s so all-fired smart. I speak t’ him if I see ’im, but I’m not goin’ t’ honey after ’im.
1955		E. Hunter ‘See Him Die’ in Jungle Kids (1967) 105: He’s honeying her up, come on doll, open the door, and all that kind of crap.
1966–69		in DARE.