Suck Up (to someone)

Also kiss up Meaning of Idiom ‘Suck Up’ To suck up (to someone) means the same thing as to kiss ass or to brown-nose; to curry favor or try to win approval by acting obsequiously toward an important person, especially someone who could advance one’s career or standing. The variant idiom kiss up seems to be a combination of suck … Read more

Kiss Ass or Kiss Butt, to

Also: kiss someone’s butt/ass kiss arse asskisser kissass buttkisser Meaning of Idiom ‘Kiss Ass’ To kiss ass or kiss butt is to curry favor by using flattery or affecting a fawning, servile attitude, being overly agreeable, etc. 1,2 Butt-kisser is a synonym for toady, meaning a person who behaves obsequiously to an important person. See related idiom brown nose. Want … Read more

Curry Favor, to

Meaning of Idiom ‘Curry Favor’ To curry favor means to try to gain an advantage or to seek someone’s approval flattery and sycophantic and servile behavior. There are many idioms related to curry favor, most of which are stronger in meaning and more disapproving: Usage The above variants are much more common today than curry favor, … Read more

Brown Nose, to

Also: Brown Noser (brown-noser) Brownnosing (brown nosing, brown-nosing) Meaning of Idiom ‘Brown Nose’ To brown nose is to obsequiously and shamelessly try to gain someone’s favor by being sycophantic and affecting a subservient attitude, being overly agreeable, flattering, etc. 1,2 One who engages in brownnosing is called a brown-noser. Synonyms or related words for brownnosing are obsequious, … Read more