suck-ups
People currying favor
Suck-ups are people who flatter or fawn over those in authority to gain favor.
The term is mildly contemptuous, implying the behavior is insincere and self-serving: The boss surrounded himself with suck-ups who agreed with everything he said.
A suck-up is someone who sucks up to others.
One who flatters superiors
- apple-polisherObsequious flatterer of authority
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
- bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
flatterer · kiss-up · teacher's pet · office politics · sycophant · lackey · minion · schmoozer
Excessive insincere praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- kowtowingSubmissive display of respect
- ingratiatingSeeking favor through flattery
obsequious · servile · pandering · complimenting · praising · agreeing · nodding · smiling
brown-noser
One who flatters superiors
- apple-polisherObsequious flatterer of authority
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
- bootlickerServile flatterer of superiors
toady · flatterer · kiss-up · teacher's pet · office politics · sycophant · lackey · minion · schmoozer · glad-hander
flattery
Excessive insincere praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- kowtowingSubmissive display of respect
ingratiating · obsequious · servile · pandering · complimenting · praising · agreeing · nodding · smiling · laughing
teacher's pet
Favored student
- overachieverOne exceeding all expectations
- sycophantssycophant, sycophants, toady, toadies, bootlicker
suck-upsstraight shooters
Forthright, honest individuals
truth-tellers · honest brokers · independents · lone wolves · free spirits
suck-upsrebels
Armed opposition fighters
critics · dissenters · contrarians · troublemakers · rabble-rousers
suck, sucker, suckle, suck-up, suckling, sucky, sucking up, sucks up