(noun)
In short, someone who will
bend over backwards to blow the guy looking over their shoulder.
An
individual who makes frequent, obvious, and sometimes disingenuous attempts to impress, please, or win favor with people who are either in a position of authority over them, or who have something that they want. One can be a suck-up because they wish to gain something tangible (promotion/pay, favors, gifts, etc.) by pleasing the other person, or because of a
pathological need to be liked by others, the former being more common. At least a few suck-ups can be found in most workplaces.
Similar: brown-noser, teacher's pet, kiss-ass, ass kisser, yes-man.
(verb)
To "suck up" (two words, usually not hyphenated) is the act of being a suck-up.
Similar: Brown-nose, brown-nosing, ass-kissing.
(noun)
Guy 1) Wow, dude. Jerry is running all over Hell and creation to make his boss happy. I'm surprised he hasn't bent over backwards to blow the guy yet.
Guy 2) Yeah, well promotions are right
around the corner and Jerry's a world-class suck-up.
(verb)
Guy 1) Is there
anything else I can do for you today, sir? Do you need a cup of coffee, perhaps?
Guy 2) Jerry,
don't suck up to me. Nobody's getting Christmas bonuses this year and that includes you.
