It means to treat a person kindly or gently, especially in a situation where you might be expected to be angry with him.

VOA: special.2010.08.29

People answered--most people said, no, I'd be so annoyed and angry with myself I'd just leave.

大多数人回答道，不会，我肯定会很烦很生气,我会直接离开。

耶鲁公开课 - 金融市场课程节选

As I said, in some context last time, how many Russian peasants died in the 1890s thinking, "Oh my god, if the Czar only knew that we're starving, how angry he would be with his officials."

就像我在上一讲提到的,有多少死于1890年代的俄国农民会想,"上帝啊,要是沙皇知道我们在挨饿就好了,他该对手下的官员发多大的火啊"

耶鲁公开课 - 欧洲文明课程节选

I can do so many things with it. It can be really pretty or it can be really angry."

VOA: special.2010.06.21