toady

/'toudi/
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toady

He is a shameless toady who flatters his boss constantly.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • A person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage; a sycophant or flatterer. A "toady" is someone who behaves in an excessively obedient or flattering way towards a powerful person, hoping to receive benefits or favor in return.

  2. Verb:

    • To try to gain favor by cringing or flattering; to act in a servile or obsequious manner. To "toady" means to behave like a toady, using excessive praise or subservience to win someone's approval.
Usage and Examples

  • Noun:

    • He was seen as nothing more than the manager's toady, always agreeing with everything she said.
    • The political leader was surrounded by toadies who never dared to criticize his plans.

  • Verb:

    • He spent the evening toadying to the wealthy investors, hoping for a donation.
    • She refused to toady to her superiors, preferring to speak her mind honestly.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
  • The term "toady" carries a strong negative connotation. It implies a lack of integrity, independence, and genuine respect. The person being flattered is often seen as powerful or influential.
  • The verb form is often used with the preposition "to" (e.g., ).
  • "Toadyism" (noun): The practice or behavior of a toady; sycophancy.
    • The culture of toadyism in the office made it difficult for honest feedback to be heard.
Variants and Related Words
  • Toadyish (adjective): Resembling or characteristic of a toady; sycophantic.
    • His toadyish compliments were transparent and insincere.
  • Sycophant (noun): A close synonym for "toady."
  • Obsequious (adjective): Describes behavior that is obedient or attentive to an excessive degree, similar to how a toady acts.
Synonyms
  • Noun: Sycophant, flatterer, yes-man, bootlicker, fawner, lackey.
  • Verb: Fawn, flatter, kowtow, grovel, bootlick, suck up (informal).
Antonyms
  • Noun: Independent, straight talker, critic.
  • Verb: Defy, oppose, confront.
Idioms and Phrases
  • To play the toady: To act the part of a toady.
    • He wasn't interested in the job on its merits; he was just playing the toady to get a promotion.
  • While not a phrasal verb, the common construction is "to toady to [someone]".
    • He was accused of toadying to the celebrity guests at the event.
toady

He is a shameless toady who flatters his boss constantly.

Noun
  1. a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
Verb
  1. try to gain favor by cringing or flattering
    • He is always kowtowing to his boss

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