suck 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.
“He's always sucking up to the boss.”
“He sucked up to the teacher before grades came out.”
Don't confuse with
Suck up means try to gain favour by flattering someone. Suck in means pull inward by suction or attraction.
Test yourself
“He's always sucking up to the boss.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
suck in
A contrast learners often mix up
Pull inward by suction or attraction
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
kiss up
Same up pattern: pleasing
Try to gain favour by flattering someone
play up
Same up pattern: pleasing
Cause problems by misbehaving or malfunctioning; Act in a way that pleases someone or a group
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