kissed up to
Sought favor from
Kissed up to is the past tense of kiss up to, meaning to flatter or ingratiate oneself with someone in authority: He kissed up to the boss for months before getting the promotion.
The phrase suggests behavior that's transparently self-serving, often embarrassing to witness.
- flatteredPleased by compliments
- fawnedFlattered servilely
- grovelledHumbled oneself completely
- bowed and scrapedBehaved with fawning subservience
- schmoozedMade friendly conversation strategically
sang praises · wheedled · sycophancy · kowtowed · bootlicked · buttered up · sucked up · servility · brown-nosed · soft-soaped · power dynamics · played favorites · sweet-talked · charmed · curried favor · opportunism · toadied · smooch
treatment/behavior toward others
kissed up todisrespected
Treated with contempt
insulted · antagonized · defied · stood up to · snubbed
interpersonal deference behavior
kissed up todisrespected
Treated with contempt
looked down on · talked down to · belittled · snubbed · dismissed