kiss up
Flatter for advantage
Kiss up means to flatter or ingratiate oneself with someone in authority, usually to gain favor or advantage.
The behavior suggests submission—metaphorically bringing one's lips upward toward someone of higher status.
As a noun, a kiss-up is a person who habitually engages in such behavior: He's such a kiss-up to the boss.
She kissed up to the professor all semester.
Young deer, or flatter
- grovelHumble oneself servilely
- bootlickFlatter servilely for gain
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- brownnoseExcessive flattery for advantage
apple-polish · suck up · kowtow · flatter · ingratiate · curry favor · butter up · schmooze
Servile praise-giver
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
- flunkyServile subordinate
- lackeyServile follower or minion
bootlicker · brownnoser · apple-polisher · flatterer · minion · doormat · hanger-on · lapdog
Servilely attentive to superiors
- servileExcessively submissive, lacking independence
- subservientExcessively eager to obey
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- unctuousExcessively and insincerely earnest
slavish · deferential · cringing · groveling · smarmy · ingratiating · oleaginous · spineless
fawn
Young deer, or flatter
- grovelHumble oneself servilely
- bootlickFlatter servilely for gain
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
brownnose · apple-polish · suck up · kowtow · flatter · ingratiate · curry favor · butter up · schmooze · pander
sycophant
Servile praise-giver
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
- flunkyServile subordinate
lackey · bootlicker · brownnoser · apple-polisher · flatterer · minion · doormat · hanger-on · lapdog · stooge
obsequious
Servilely attentive to superiors
- servileExcessively submissive, lacking independence
- subservientExcessively eager to obey
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
unctuous · slavish · deferential · cringing · groveling · smarmy · ingratiating · oleaginous · spineless · mealy-mouthed
- flatteryflatter, praise, flattery, compliment, compliments
- teacher's petsapple polisher, brown noser, suck up, favorite, teacher's pets
- conformityconformity, conforming, conform, conformist, conformism
- fawn overgush, dote, adore, worship, idolize
- lay it on thickexaggerate, overstate, embellish, ham it up, overact
kiss updefy
Resist or challenge openly
rebel · stand up to · talk back · disrespect · disobey
kiss upkick down
Force open by stomping
punch down · lord over · look down on · bully · condescend