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

And then Zeus, Athena and especially Aphrodite, looking down on him, took mercy and brought the statue to life.

宙斯，雅典娜，特别是阿芙罗狄蒂，俯视他，深感同情，于是把雕像变活。

哈佛公开课 - 幸福课课程节选

One Van Gogh painting that especially influenced him was "The Starry Night", painted in eighteen eighty-nine.

VOA: special.2010.03.24

Some of them - especially Henry Clay and Daniel Webster - believed they could continue to control him, even after Harrison moved into the White House.

VOA: special.2009.01.22

His music has earned him many fans, especially among Arab-speaking immigrants living in France.

VOA: special.2010.08.11

Blacks,especially, wanted to get near him.

VOA: special.2009.12.17

Analysts say Mr.Zardari opposes reinstating those same deposed justices, especially the chief, because they could reopen corruption cases against him.

VOA: standard.2009.03.13

"President Obama continues to inspire great confidence from the American public, especially when you compare him to other political leaders,"

VOA: standard.2010.01.06

Writer-director Nolan says the worldwide success of his Batman adventures, especially the 2008 blockbuster The Dark Knight, gave him in the unique chance to make an unconventional studio film.

VOA: standard.2010.07.16

"Michael Jackson has left a legacy, especially his dance style and his way of singing, "There are a lot people who admire him for the way he sang, the way he danced even up to today.

VOA: standard.2009.06.26

but in Me and Orson Welles McKay says the challenge was to rediscover the brash young man who would become the stage and screen icon: "I felt a tremendous responsibility toward him,especially because of his own mythology his own myth making,"

VOA: standard.2009.12.17