Definition
拍马屁 is a colloquial verb-object expression meaning 'to flatter' or 'to brown-nose.' It literally translates to 'pat the horse's rump' and comes from an old custom. As a separable compound (离合词), you can insert the object or modifier between 拍 and 马屁, like 拍他的马屁 ('flatter him') or 拍老板的马屁 ('flatter the boss').
v.o.
(colloquial, separable verb-object) to flatterto fawn onto suck up to
Examples
- 。Tā zǒng xǐhuān pāi jīnglǐ de mǎpì.He always likes to flatter the manager.
- 拍马屁，。Bié pāi mǎ pì le, dàjiā dōu kàn de chūlái.Stop buttering up; everyone can see it.
- 。Tā cái bú huì pāi lǐngdǎo de mǎpì ne.She would never suck up to the leaders.
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