suck up to: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, slightly pejorative
Quick answer
What does “suck up to” mean?
To try to gain someone's favour through excessive flattery or obsequious behaviour.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To try to gain someone's favour through excessive flattery or obsequious behaviour.
To ingratiate oneself with a person in authority by acting in an excessively deferential, flattering, or subservient manner, often to gain a personal advantage or avoid negative consequences.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used similarly in both varieties. UK usage may be slightly more frequent in describing workplace/school dynamics.
Connotations
Universally negative, suggesting weakness, sycophancy, and a lack of integrity.
Frequency
Fairly common in spoken language and informal writing in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “suck up to” in a Sentence
[Subject] sucks up to [Object (person)][Subject] is always sucking up to [Object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “suck up to” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's always sucking up to the headmaster.
- Don't suck up to me; just do your work properly.
American English
- She's sucking up to the boss before the performance reviews.
- He sucked up to the professor for a better grade.
adjective
British English
- His suck-up behaviour was obvious to everyone.
- She gave a suck-up presentation full of empty praise.
American English
- He has a suck-up attitude that annoys his coworkers.
- That was a totally suck-up comment.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"He's transparently sucking up to the new CEO, hoping for a promotion."
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing; appears in sociological/political texts about power dynamics.
Everyday
"Stop sucking up to Mum just because you want to borrow the car."
Technical
Not applicable in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “suck up to”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “suck up to”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “suck up to”
- *He sucks up his boss. (Missing 'to')
- *She is sucking up the manager. (Missing 'to')
- Using it in a positive context. (e.g., *'I suck up to my parents because I love them.' - Incorrect, as it implies insincerity)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal and slightly pejorative. It's rude to describe someone as doing it, but it is a standard critical term, not a swear word.
No, it is too informal. Use 'ingratiate oneself with', 'attempt to curry favour with', or 'display sycophantic behaviour towards'.
Yes, a 'suck-up' (or 'suck-up') is a person who habitually sucks up to people.
'Flatter' is more general and can be sincere or casual. 'Suck up to' is always directed at a superior, is insincere, and implies a continuous, self-serving strategy.
To try to gain someone's favour through excessive flattery or obsequious behaviour.
Suck up to: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsʌk ˈʌp tuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsʌk ˈʌp tuː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Brown-noser (n.) - a person who sucks up”
- “Teacher's pet (n.) - a student who sucks up to the teacher”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a student using a STRAW to SUCK UP a milkshake TO their teacher as a gift. The action is overly eager and done TO please.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL INTERACTION IS PHYSICAL INGESTION (The subordinate metaphorically 'consumes' the superior's will to gain favour).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary motivation for someone who 'sucks up to' another person?