Definition

1. Verb (Phrasal Verb):
   • To try to gain favor or approval from someone, especially a superior, through excessive flattery, subservience, or obsequious behavior. This usage carries a strong negative connotation of insincerity and self-serving motives.
   • To absorb or draw in a liquid or, metaphorically, an abstract quality. This is a more literal, physical meaning, often used informally.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (Meaning: To flatter obsequiously):
  • He constantly sucks up to the manager, hoping for a promotion.
  • Stop sucking up! The teacher knows you didn't do the homework.
• Verb (Meaning: To absorb):
  • The paper towel will suck up the spilled milk quickly.
  • The new student seemed to suck up all the confidence in the room.

Advanced Usage

• "to suck up to someone": This is the most common structure when using the phrasal verb to mean flattery. The preposition "to" is essential here.
  • She's always sucking up to the senior partners at the firm.
• The phrasal verb can be separated by a noun or pronoun object.
  • He's trying to suck all the praise up for himself. (Separated, meaning: to absorb/claim)
  • She sucks it up to her boss every day. (Separated, meaning: to flatter)

Variants and Related Words

• Suck-up (noun): A person who habitually tries to gain favor through flattery.
  • Don't be such a suck-up; just do your work well.
• Absorb (verb): A more formal synonym for the physical "take in" meaning.
• Ingratiate (verb): A more formal synonym for the "gain favor" meaning, as in "to ingratiate oneself."

Synonyms

• Brown-nose (verb, slang): To behave obsequiously towards someone in authority.
• Kowtow (verb): To act in an excessively subservient manner.
• Flatter (verb): To praise excessively, but without the same strong implication of subservience.
• Soak up (phrasal verb): A close synonym for the "absorb" meaning.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Play up to: To flatter or try to please someone, similar to "suck up to."
  • He's just playing up to the client to get the contract.
• Butter up: To flatter someone, often with the aim of getting them to do something.
  • She buttered up her dad before asking to borrow the car.

Related Idioms

• Suck it up: An informal idiom meaning to accept an unpleasant but unavoidable situation without complaining.
  • I know you're tired, but we have to finish this project. Just suck it up for a few more hours. (Note: This is a distinct idiom with a different meaning from "suck up to someone.")

Verb

1. try to gain favor by cringing or flattering
   • He is always kowtowing to his boss
2. ingratiate oneself to; often with insincere behavior
   • She is playing up to the chairman
3. take in, also metaphorically
   • The sponge absorbs water well
   • She drew strength from the minister's words