Kiss-up

A 'kiss-up' refers to an overly ingratiating person who flatters or compliments someone, typically in a position of authority, to gain their favor or approval. This term emphasizes insincerity or self-serving motives behind the excessive praise, often detracting from genuine interactions. The behavior is seen as sycophantic and can lead to negative perceptions among peers.

Kiss-up meaning with examples

• During the meeting, David became such a kiss-up by constantly praising the manager’s ideas, even when they were mediocre. His co-workers rolled their eyes, knowing he was trying to secure a promotion rather than genuinely supporting the team.
• In an attempt to win the employee of the month award, Jenna acted like a kiss-up by excessively complimenting her supervisor's decisions, hoping to curry favor, yet her colleagues remained unimpressed by her lack of authenticity in their interactions.
• When the new boss arrived, Mark transformed into a kiss-up, frequently offering compliments and flattery. His colleagues noticed this charade, realizing that he aimed at securing special treatment instead of building real rapport with the team.
• Samantha's kiss-up behavior was evident when she continually agreed with Eric's suggestions, even those that were flawed. Her insistence on being agreeable frustrated others and made them question her credibility in the workplace.
• At the annual office party, Lisa became the ultimate kiss-up, loudly extolling the virtues of her bosses in front of everyone. This backfired as her disingenuousness alienated her from her peers who valued more authentic social interactions.