dance attendance (up)on (someone)

dance attendance (up)on (someone)

To perform assiduously and obsequiously any task required or requested by someone. After earning his fortune, he now has servants constantly dancing attendance on him. He's always dancing attendance upon us so that we'll let him hang out with us.See also: attendance, dance

dance attendance on

Wait on attentively and obsequiously, obey someone's every wish or whim. For example, He expected his secretary to dance attendance on him so she quit her job. This expression alludes to the old custom of making a bride dance with every wedding guest. In the 1500s it was used first to mean "await" an audience with someone, but by about 1600 it had acquired its present meaning. Also see at someone's beck and call. See also: attendance, dance, on

dance attendance on

do your utmost to please someone by attending to all their needs or requests. The expression originally referred to someone waiting ‘kicking their heels’ until an important person summoned them or would see them. 1999 Shyama Perera I Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet Tammy and I sat on a vinyl bench seat and watched the visiting flow while Jan disappeared to dance attendance on her mother. See also: attendance, dance, on

ˌdance atˈtendance on somebody

(British English, formal) do a lot of small jobs in order to please somebody: She always has an assistant dancing attendance on her.See also: attendance, dance, on, somebody

dance attendance on

To attend to or try to please (someone) with eagerness or obsequiousness.See also: attendance, dance, on