kiss up

See also: kiss-up

English

Alternative forms

• kiss-up

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Verb

kiss up (third-person singular simple present kisses up, present participle kissing up, simple past and past participle kissed up)

1. (transitive, idiomatic) To pay false flattery to another, particularly a superior at work, in order to get special attention.

   Yes, I watched Joe kissing up the boss and was very annoyed when he got my promotion!

2. (intransitive, idiomatic) To pay false flattery.

   He kisses up more than he works.

Derived terms

• kiss up to

See also

• kiss up, kick down