lick the boots of (someone)

lick the boots of (someone)

To flatter, fawn over, or eagerly agree with someone, especially a person of higher authority as a means of currying favor. Sure, if you keep licking the boots of the teacher, you'll be her favorite—but at what cost to your reputation? Look, it's just the nature of this business that sometimes you have to lick the boots of your superiors if you want to get ahead.

See also: boot, lick, of

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.