to fawn on; to flatter and toady
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to flatter and toady; to fawn on; to suck up
informalDerogatory term describing the behavior of insincerely flattering someone, especially a superior, to gain favor. Combines two acts: smoothing the beard (溜须) and patting the horse (拍马), historically symbolizing flattery.
Tā他
wèi为
le了
shēng升
zhí职
，
zhěng整
tiān天
duì对
lǐng领
dǎo导
liū溜
xū须
pāi拍
mǎ马
。
He spends all day flattering the boss in order to get a promotion.
Wǒ我
zuì最
tǎo讨
yàn厌
nà那
xiē些
zhǐ只
huì会
liū溜
xū须
pāi拍
mǎ马
，
méi没
yǒu有
zhēn真
běn本
shì事
de的
rén人
。
I despise people who only know how to suck up and have no real skills.
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Zài在
zhèng正
zhí直
de的
gōng公
sī司
wén文
huà化
lǐ里
，
liū溜
xū须
pāi拍
mǎ马
shì是
xíng行
bù不
tōng通
de的
。
In a company culture that values integrity, flattery and toadying don't work.