lick somebody's boots

lick (someone's) boots

To flatter, fawn over, or eagerly agree with someone, especially a person of higher authority as a means of currying favor. It's no wonder you're the teacher's favorite from the way you lick her boots! Look, it's just the nature of this business that sometimes you have to lick your superiors' boots if you want to get ahead.See also: boot, lick

lick somebody’s ˈboots

(informal) (British English also lick somebody’s ˈarse taboo, slang) (American English also lick somebody’s ˈass taboo, slang) show too much respect for somebody in authority because you want to please them: It makes me very angry when I see Andrew licking Mr Smith’s boots all the time.See also: boot, lick