/ English Dictionary

SUCK UP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Try to gain favor by cringing or flattering

Example:

He is always kowtowing to his boss

Synonyms:

bootlick; fawn; kotow; kowtow; suck up; toady; truckle

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "suck up" is one way to...):

blandish; flatter (praise somewhat dishonestly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "suck up"):

court favor; court favour; curry favor; curry favour (seek favor by fawning or flattery)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Take in, also metaphorically

Example:

She drew strength from the minister's words

Synonyms:

absorb; draw; imbibe; soak up; sop up; suck; suck up; take in; take up

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "suck up"):

mop; mop up; wipe up (to wash or wipe with or as if with a mop)

blot (dry (ink) with blotting paper)

sponge up (absorb as if with a sponge)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Ingratiate oneself to; often with insincere behavior

Example:

She is playing up to the chairman

Synonyms:

cotton up; cozy up; play up; shine up; sidle up; suck up

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "suck up" is one way to...):

ingratiate (gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

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