?拍马屁

... in the van 处于前沿；处于领先地位 lick sb's boots 阿谀奉承；谄媚；拍马屁 lick your wounds（失败或失望后）恢复元气，重整旗鼓 ...

?奉承某人

... get the boot 被解雇 lick sb's boots 奉承某人 put the boot in 狠狠地踢 ...