Toadying

Pronunciation: /ˈtoʊdiɪŋ/

Definitions of toadying

verb the act of behaving in a subservient or overly obedient manner in order to gain favor or approval

Example Sentences

A1 She is always toadying to her boss in hopes of getting a promotion.

A2 The student was caught toadying to the teacher in order to get better grades.

B1 The politician was accused of toadying to special interest groups for campaign donations.

B2 The CEO's constant toadying to shareholders led to a decrease in employee morale.

C1 The journalist refused to engage in toadying behavior towards powerful figures in order to maintain integrity.

C2 The actor's reputation suffered when it was revealed that he had been toadying to producers for leading roles.

Examples of toadying in a Sentence

formal The politician was accused of toadying to the wealthy donors in exchange for campaign contributions.

informal I can't stand toadying behavior, it's so transparent and insincere.

slang Stop toadying up to the boss, it's embarrassing to watch.

figurative Her constant toadying to authority figures left her with no true friends.

Grammatical Forms of toadying

• past tense: toadied
• plural: toadies
• comparative: more toadying
• superlative: most toadying
• present tense: toadies
• future tense: will toady
• perfect tense: has toadied
• continuous tense: is toadying
• singular: toadies
• positive degree: toady
• infinitive: to toady
• gerund: toadying
• participle: toadied

Origin and Evolution of toadying

First Known Use: 1828 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'toadying' originates from the practice of flattery and servile behavior towards someone in power, likened to a toad licking the feet of a monarch as a sign of submission.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'toadying' has retained its negative connotation of obsequious behavior, often used to describe someone who excessively seeks favor or approval from authority figures.