LICKS BOOTS Meaning and
Definition
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The phrase "licks boots" is an idiomatic expression that refers to someone who displays excessive subservience, sycophantic behavior, or a willingness to stoop to any level in order to gain favor or benefit from a person in a position of power or authority.
The term originates from the literal action of licking someone's boots, which indicates extreme reverence, submission, and obedience, often associated with the inferior humbling themselves before their superior. Figuratively speaking, when someone "licks boots," they are metaphorically suggesting that they are willing to go to great lengths or engage in degrading actions to garner favor, protection, or opportunities from the person in a higher position.
This phrase typically carries a negative connotation, indicating that an individual is lacking self-respect, integrity, or personal autonomy. It implies that the person is so desperate for approval or personal gain that they are willing to abandon their own principles or values. By metaphorically suggesting the submission and obedience displayed by boot-licking, the expression emphasizes the derogatory nature of the behavior.
The term "licks boots" is often used in a critical or derogatory manner to denounce someone who is unashamedly subservient, overly agreeable, or excessively compliant towards those in authority, and highlights the person's perceived lack of genuine character or independence.
Common Misspellings for LICKS BOOTS
- lick bootes
- likc boots
- lick boots
- lick bootss
- kicks boots
- picks boots
- oicks boots
- lucks boots
- ljcks boots
- lkcks boots
- locks boots
- l9cks boots
- l8cks boots
- lixks boots
- livks boots
- lifks boots
- lidks boots
- licjs boots
- licms boots
- licls boots
Etymology of LICKS BOOTS
The phrase "licks boots" is a colloquial expression used to describe someone who excessively flatters or submits to another person, often out of a sense of subservience or to gain favor. The expression itself has a figurative meaning and the etymology can be traced back to the literal action of licking boots.
The verb "lick" comes from Old English "liccian" meaning "to lick". In this literal sense, "licking boots" could refer to the act of polishing or cleaning someone's boots with one's tongue. This image of submission and subservience has been used metaphorically throughout history to describe someone who seeks to please or appease another person by any means necessary.
The phrase "licks boots" as an idiom likely originated around the 17th or 18th century, drawing upon the imagery of licking someone's boots as a display of utter submission.
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