arse-lickv.
/ˈɑːslɪk/, U.S. /ˈɑrsˌlɪk/ coarse slang.The form arse-lick is now rare in North America, where ass-lick v. is the usual form.
1. transitive. To flatter (a person) excessively or insincerely, esp. with the aim of gaining favour or advancement. Cf. ass-lick v. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > flatter servilely or curry favour with [verb (transitive)]
flatter1340
to claw the back ofc1394
to pick a thank (also thanks)c1422
clawc1425
to claw by the sleeve1509
to claw by the backa1542
fawna1568
to make or pay (one's) court to1590
adulate1612
hug1622
sycophant1637
to make up to1701
to whip it in with1702
cultivate1706
incense1708
to wheedle in with1726
to grandfather up1747
slaver1794
toad1802
to play up to ——1809
nut1819
toady1827
bootlick1846
to suck up to1860
lickspittle1886
jolly1890
bum-suck1918
arse-lick1919
to cosy up to1937
brown-nose1948
ass-kiss1951
ass-lick1962
love-bomb1976
1919 D. H. Lawrence Let. 6 Jan. (1962) I. 575 Desmond MacCarthy was quite pleased with himself for having arse-licked Ottoline and the Prince both at once.
1971 London Mag. Oct. 135/1 Instead of arse-licking an indifferent public.
1987 Guardian 20 Jan. 36/7 He has an almost evangelical hatred of the corporate culture, where everyone arse-licks the chairman and has a Roller.
2012 R. Kendal Murder of Norman Ware vi. 73 Phil had managed to get through medical school by..arse-licking the lecturers.
2. intransitive. To speak or act in an excessively or insincerely flattering manner, esp. with the aim of gaining favour or advancement. Cf. ass-lick v. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > flatter servilely or curry favour [verb (intransitive)]
fain?c1225
fawnc1325
to make placebo1340
fagea1382
curryc1400
to curry favela1420
to claw (a person's) toea1500
to curry favour?1518
to be at the school of placebo1554
to play (with) placebo1583
insinuatea1593
wriggle1601
lick1602
sycophantize1605
gnathonize1619
pickthank1621
supparasitate1623
ingratiate1647
slaver1730
toad-eat1766
slaum1787
to eat (any one's) toads1788
toad1802
bootlick1846
toady1861
to suck in1899
smoodge1906
smarm1911
arse-lick1928
bum-suck1930
to suck round1931
ass-lick1937
brown-nose1939
suck-hole1961
weasel1980
1928 D. H. Lawrence Lady Chatterley's Lover xv. 260 Kow-tow, kow-tow, arse-licking till their tongues are tough.
1990 J. McGahern Amongst Women 6 In an army in peacetime you have to arse-lick and know the right people if you want to get on.
2010 Sowetan (Johannesburg) (Nexis) 1 Oct. I even avoided writing about his show because it would have sounded as though I were arse-licking.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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