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This phrasal verb means to persuade someone when we try offering something.

Examples :

  1. Can I interest you in coffee?
  2. Can I interest you in having a special relationship between us?

Do native speakers use this term when persuading people?
Can I also use the term as in question #2?

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    According to the ODO, yes. "interest VERB 1.1 (interest someone in) Persuade someone to undertake or acquire (something): efforts were made to interest her in a purchase." oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/interest Also, "induce to participate". See also, Cambridge Dict Online, "(with in) to persuade to do, buy etc ... Can I interest you in (buying) this dictionary?" dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-french/interest_2
    – Kris
    Commented Mar 2, 2015 at 5:20
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    Harrap's essential English Dictionary, 1996, p.501: 2 (formal) When you ask someone if you can interest them in something, you are trying to persuade them to have it, or buy it: Could I interest you in a glass of wine? | Perhaps we can interest you in one of our cut-price holidays?
    – Kris
    Commented Mar 2, 2015 at 5:31
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    "Could I interest you in a pair of crampons?" (The Guardian, Feb. 04); "In the meantime, might I interest you in some lovely deductions?" (NYT, Feb. 14).
    – Kris
    Commented Mar 2, 2015 at 5:32
  • You can, but you may not, interest me.
    – Blessed Geek
    Commented Mar 2, 2015 at 6:11
  • I'd freak out if somebody used example (2) with me, it sounds very pushy, inappropriate (are we already dating?) and dangerously close to being creepy. Short story: Nobody uses that line for asking a woman out. The phrase "Could I interest you in...?" is often used (not always) with customers/potential buyers.
    – Mari-Lou A
    Commented Mar 2, 2015 at 8:20

2 Answers 2

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Well according to Cambridge Dictionaries Online AmEn speakers use this term;

Can I interest you in something

› Would you like to buy or take something:
Can I interest you in a cup of coffee?

As of question # 2 I believe we do not buy or take special relationships.If you are addressing a lady I will suggest saying something like " would you allow me to persuade you to have a special relationship with me" but then native AmEn speakers know better.

Anyway, with a lady or a guy I prefer " may I" to " can I". Probably it's OK to say " may I interest you in having a special relationship with me", only our native AmEn fellow members can tell both of us.

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    The chivalrous and now outdated mode for asking a woman to marry was something like: Would you allow me the honour of being your husband? If a man wanted to invite a woman out, he might have said: Would you allow me the pleasure of going out with you? But again, it's very formal and harks back to the 19th century.
    – Mari-Lou A
    Commented Mar 2, 2015 at 8:05
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    Alternatively: Could I persuade you to come out with me? But again it's very polite and formal. Nowadays it's more like: "Can I ask you out?"
    – Mari-Lou A
    Commented Mar 2, 2015 at 8:11
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Yes people do use this phrase but it is somewhat associated with old fashioned style - especially with regard to face to face selling.

Indeed you're likely to find parodies of old style shop interactions 'Could I interest Sir in one of our fine silk ties...?" If you search Youtube.

I'm pretty sure Monty Python did several.

I would not be surprised if an older person (60 plus) used this phrase with me but someone younger would only use it in jest or parody I think.

The more common use of the verb is in the other format which you correctly distinguish from this ' I am interested in ...'

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