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Glite Dictionary
kiss-up attitude

kiss-up attitude

7.9
A way of behaving that praises people in charge to get their favor
  • noun
  • /ˈkɪsˌʌp ˈætɪˌtjud/
  • Offensive
translation icon : actitud de lamebotas
  • He succeeded at the job mainly because of his kiss-up attitude toward his supervisors.

Examples

  • Most people dislike a kiss-up attitude, preferring genuine honesty instead.

  • Do you really think a kiss-up attitude will help you?

  • Her kiss-up attitude annoys the rest of the team.

  • His kiss-up attitude annoys everyone at the office.

  • His kiss-up attitude towards the boss earned him many praises but little respect from his peers.

  • Many employees find her constant kiss-up attitude to be disingenuous and prefer honest feedback.

  • Even though his kiss-up attitude helped him get promoted, it did not endear him to the staff.

Synonyms

flattery
vskiss-up attitude
37 4.7

Praise people give without meaning it to get something from someone

is a particular manner of such praise directed at people in power
adulation
vskiss-up attitude
  • Formal
18 8.4

Too much praise that is not honest and meant to get approval

is the same kind of praise but specifically aimed at authority figures
sweet talk
vskiss-up attitude
  • Informal
3 4.3

Flattering words that try to persuade someone but are not sincere

is a broader flattering manner that often includes speech toward authority
smarm
vskiss-up attitude
  • Informal
1 9.7

Praise that is too much and not sincere to make someone like you

focuses specifically on flattering behavior directed at people in power
unctuous behavior
vskiss-up attitude
1 9.8

Trying too hard to please others by being polite and friendly in a way that does not seem honest

is the same kind of flattering conduct aimed at authority figures
smarminess
vskiss-up attitude
  • Informal
1 9.2

Too much praise that tries to make people like you

is the actual flattering manner used mainly toward authority figures
toadyism
vskiss-up attitude
9.9

A habit of flattering and obeying a person in power to gain favor

is a general flattering manner that often targets those in authority
bootlicking
vskiss-up attitude
  • Offensive
8.6

Acting too friendly and praising people in power to get favors

is a flatteringly submissive manner usually used with authority figures
fawning
vskiss-up attitude
7.4

Showing too much praise and attention to please someone

is similar but especially used to win over people in authority
unctuous tone
vskiss-up attitude
9.3

A way of speaking that is too friendly and seems not sincere

is the general flattering manner often used to gain favor from superiors

Antonyms

disdainful
8 7.0

Showing that you think someone or something is not worth respect

How Sycophantic

kiss-up attitude
  • Offensive
7.9
politeness
26 1.3

Surface Forms

kiss-up attitude singular
kiss-up attitudes plural

Morphology

kiss-up + attitude

The key constituent 'kiss-up' is informal, idiomatic (from the phrasal verb 'kiss up to someone' = to flatter or be sycophantic) and its meaning cannot be derived from the literal words 'kiss' + 'up'. Although 'attitude' is transparent, the overall sense 'excessively flattering manner' is idiomatic and not predictable for a B1 learner who only knows the literal constituents.

Etymology

Kiss-up attitude comes from a simple picture: someone kissing a person up, that is, acting very nicely toward a boss to move up at work. That's why it means 'praising someone too much to gain favor'.