To behave obsequiously toward someone in authority; to flatter excessively or show servile deference for personal gain.
From 'bootlick,' which emerged in American slang around 1848, likely combining 'boot' with 'lick' to create a vivid image of servile submission.
The phrase 'bootlicks' is almost exclusively American—other English-speaking countries use 'suck up' or 'kowtow,' showing how different cultures visualize obedience differently!
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