English, baby!

suck up

Date: Mar 21 2002

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

“All of a sudden CBS executives can’t suck up to me enough.”
—Dave Letterman, comedian and talk show host, talking about his move to ABC.

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

be nice because you want something; do good things for someone because you want them to like you; try to make someone like you by complimenting him/her and making him/her feel good about him/herself

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

When you suck up to somebody, you’re doing it because you want something. You’re not just being nice because you’re a nice person, you’re being nice because you want a result. For example, if you want your mom to let you drive her car, you can be really nice to her. You can tell her she’s the best mom in the whole world. You can give her chocolate. You can give her a massage. And when you do, you’re sucking up to her.

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

””My brother always sucks up to me when he wants something from me. Yesterday he gave me a big box of candy. He hasn’t told me what he wants yet, but I know it must be something important.”“

””I don’t suck up to my teachers very often, but sometimes it helps to do it if I want to get a good grade.”“

””I hate it when people suck up because they want something. People should just be honest. If they want something, they should ask for it!”“

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

I think ‘Suck up’ means compliment excessively or flatter.
by Premananda
Suck up means appeal, attract, please.
by Lee (Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.)
I think “suck up” means satisfy, fulfill one’s idea.
by Joni (Taipeo, Taiwan)

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