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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:
Hypernyms (to "suck up" is one way to...):
ingratiate (gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
