kiss up
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle up
Meanings
Try to gain favour by flattering someone
Why “up”? You try to please someone, so they will like you, approve of you, or help you.
“Lee keeps kissing up to the team leader.”
“He kissed up to his aunt before asking to borrow the car.”
Test yourself
“Lee keeps kissing up to the team leader.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
butter up
Same up pattern: pleasing
Flatter someone so they will help you
cosy up
Same up pattern: pleasing
Try to become friendly with someone for your own benefit
play up
Same up pattern: pleasing
Cause problems by misbehaving or malfunctioning; Act in a way that pleases someone or a group
suck up
Same up pattern: pleasing
Try to gain favour by flattering someone
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