slobber over
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: * To show excessive, unrestrained, and often foolish admiration or desire for someone or something. It implies a lack of dignity or self-control in one's envy or longing.
Usage
The verb "slobber over" is used to describe an action where someone expresses intense, uncritical, and undignified admiration or envy. It often carries a negative or mocking tone, suggesting the person's behavior is excessive and unattractive.
Examples
- The fans slobbered over the celebrity's every word and gesture.
- He spent the whole car show slobbering over the new sports car he couldn't afford.
- She accused her colleagues of slobbering over the boss's attention and praise.
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is almost always used figuratively. While "slobber" literally means to let saliva run from the mouth, "slobber over" describes an emotional state of excessive desire, not a physical action.
- It can be used in both present and past contexts to criticize someone's overt and undignified envy or admiration.
Variants and Related Words
- Slobber (verb): To let saliva or liquid run from the mouth.
- The baby slobbered on his toy.
- Slobbery (adjective): Wet with saliva; or, figuratively, excessively sentimental or effusive.
- He gave her a slobbery kiss. (literal)
- The movie's ending was a bit too slobbery for my taste. (figurative)
Synonyms
- Drool over: To show great, often envious, pleasure or desire for something.
- Fawn over: To flatter or display affection in an exaggerated way to gain favor.
- Gush over: To express enthusiasm in an unrestrained, effusive manner.
- Covet: To desire wrongfully or enviously what belongs to another.
Related Phrasal Verbs / Idioms
- Make a fuss over: To pay excessive attention to someone or something.
- The grandparents made a fuss over their new grandchild. (This is more positive and less critical than "slobber over").
- Lick someone's boots: To behave in a servile way towards someone to gain favor.
- He's always licking the manager's boots to get a promotion. (This implies subservience, while "slobber over" implies unrestrained envy or desire).
Verb
- envy without restraint