Pronunciation: [pˈe͡ɪz kˈɔːt tuː] (IPA) 
The phrase "pays court to" means to try to impress or gain favor with someone. The spelling of "pays court to" is straightforward. The word "pays" is pronounced as /peɪz/ (payz) and is spelled with a "y" and an "s" at the end. The word "court" is pronounced as /kɔrt/ (kort) and is spelled with a "c" and an "o" in the beginning. The phrase is usually spelled as three separate words, with "to" being the last one.
The phrase "pays court to" refers to the act of actively seeking the favor, attention, or approval of someone, particularly through flattery, admiration, or by offering acts of kindness or other forms of attention. It is commonly used to describe an individual's deliberate actions or behavior that aim to win the admiration, support, or affection of another person, often with the intention of gaining their favor or securing a positive outcome.
When one "pays court to" someone, they may adopt behaviors such as showering the person with compliments, showing extreme attentiveness and respect, or offering gifts or favors as a means of expressing their admiration or interest. These actions are typically motivated by a desire to impress or gain the favor of the person being courted, potentially in the hope of forming a relationship, gaining a promotion, or benefiting from their influence or affluence.
The phrase originates from earlier times when courtiers, individuals who attended the court of a monarch or noble, engaged in practices such as flattery, gift-giving, and show of loyalty to gain favor and support from rulers. Today, the phrase is more commonly used metaphorically to describe similar behaviors in various social or professional contexts, where individuals employ similar strategies to win over someone they admire, respect, or desire a beneficial relationship with.
