# lick someone's boots

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/lick-someones-boots
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To try hard to please someone.

## Examples

- He always licks his boss's boots to get a promotion.
- I dislike how he constantly licks the manager's boots just to earn a little extra favor.
- The ambitious junior associate was willing to lick the senior partner's boots if it meant securing a path to a prestigious partnership.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.