United StatesUnited Kingdomgeneral Englishinformalderogatorycolloquial
To attempt to obtain favor, privileges, or approval from someone (often an authority figure) by flattering, praising, or otherwise behaving obsequiously toward them.
To court the goodwill of another person through sycophantic or ingratiating actions, typically for personal advantage.
Examples:
EN: Don't kiss up to me!
ES: ¡No me hagas la pelota!
EN: Go away. Why don't you go kiss up to Father while you've got the chance?
ES: Ve a adular a papá mientras puedas.
EN: I wouldn't kiss up to the judge.
ES: Yo no besuquearía al juez.
EN: And if you want to kiss up to me, feel free.
ES: Y si quieres llevarme la contra, adelante.
EN: You think I just kiss up to Mom and Dad and pay the rent with good behaviour.
ES: Pensás que beso a mamá y papá y pago la renta con buen comportamiento.
EN: He just wants to kiss up to her.
ES: Solo quiere besársela.
EN: You kiss up to Baci and every other scumbag downtown with a nickel in their pocket.
ES: Le besas el culo a Baci y a cada escoria que tenga una moneda en su bolsillo.
EN: He says I kiss up to him so he won't give me a bad haircut.
ES: Dice que hago la pelota para que no lo corte mal. Dios mío.
EN: You just want to kiss up to him, so you can get your royal cufflinks.
ES: Quieres congraciarte con él para tener tus gemelos reales.
EN: You better let me kiss up to the architect.
ES: - Deja que yo seduzca al arquitecto.
EN: I mean, you've built this kiss up to be such a big deal.
ES: Porque... porque le has dado a lo del beso tanta importancia que,
EN: I'll kiss up to her if you want.
ES: Le daré un beso, si quieres.
EN: Don't kiss up to me.
ES: No me hagas la barba.
EN: I don't know who to kiss up to anymore.
ES: Ya no sé a quién adular.
EN: We'll have to kiss up to the old lady.
ES: Debemos estar más cariñosos que nunca con la vieja.