to bootlick

Examples

• All

• I saw a bootlicking female treat a white kid like he was her daddy!

  Blog text (17)

• Shoot me, you bootlicking... flag-worshipping heathen!

  Red State (2011)

• "No, I guess I won't bootlick."

  Fiction book (1992)

• Since when is bootlicking MLK part of being a libertarian?

  Blog text (34)

• I ain't no motherfucking, bootlicking trustee.

  Life (1999)

• Petraeus always struck me as one of those bootlicking backstabbers, i.e., politicians that float to the top in many organizations.

  Blog text (18)

• He always tries to bootlick his boss in meetings to gain favor.

• I noticed he began to bootlick the new manager after the promotion announcement.

• The employee was accused of trying to bootlick the CEO to secure a raise.

Synonyms

S

to suck up

vsto bootlick

• Informal

26 8.0

To praise someone to get their approval

aims specifically at gaining favor from people in authority

F

to fawn

vsto bootlick

25 7.7

Act very friendly and praise someone to gain their favor

is aimed particularly at people in authority rather than anyone else

K

to kowtow

vsto bootlick

12 9.2

To behave very obediently to please a person in power

is less extreme, including praise and some submissiveness to gain favor

C

to curry favor

vsto bootlick

• US

10 7.4

To try to get someone to like you by praising them or being too helpful

focuses more on praise and submission rather than helpful actions

B

to buck for

vsto bootlick

• Archaic

9 8.2

To try hard to get praise or a promotion from someone like a boss

involves using praise or submissiveness toward authority, not just effort

K

to kiss ass

vsto bootlick

• Offensive

8 9.5

To try to please someone in power to get an advantage

aims to secure approval through excessive praise or submissive behavior

B

to brown-nose

vsto bootlick

• Offensive

4 8.2

To flatter someone in power without meaning it to get their favor

leans more on submissive actions toward someone in authority

B

to bow and scrape

vsto bootlick

• Archaic

3 9.4

Behave too politely and humbly to please someone

tends to include flattery and praise in addition to submissive actions

T

to toady

vsto bootlick

1 9.1

Flatter and obey someone in power to get their favor

uses praising words as well as servile behavior to win favor

S

to soft-soap

vsto bootlick

• Informal

1 7.7

To try to persuade someone by giving false praise

is aimed specifically at winning favor rather than general persuasion

C

to court favor

vsto bootlick

1 6.8

To try to get someone's approval by praising them a lot

is used especially for seeking favor from people in positions of power

T

to truckle

vsto bootlick

• Archaic

1 9.9

To act too obediently to someone in power

is more about flattering words and seeking favor than mere obedience

L

to lick someone's boot

vsto bootlick

• Offensive

8.9

Praise or act very friendly toward a boss to get something for yourself

adds an emphasis on excessive praising and submissiveness toward authority

L

to lick the CEO's balls

vsto bootlick

• Offensive

9.9

To praise and obey a powerful person to get their support

avoids vulgarity and uses neutral words rather than crude phrase

How Obsequious

to grovel

42 7.4

to fawn

25 7.7

to bootlick

• Offensive

1 8.7

to flatter

100 3.6

to compliment

95 1.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology