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a person who flatters and obeys others in order to gain favor
What is the origin of the term "toady" and how is it used?
"Toady" comes from a shortening of "toad-eater," a term used in 17th-century England for people who pretended to eat toads as a form of trickery or deception in medicine shows. Over time, it came to describe anyone who flatters or obeys others excessively to gain favor or advantage. The term entered common English usage by the 18th century and has always been derogatory, used to criticize sycophants or people seen as overly submissive for personal gain. It's typically applied in social, workplace, or political contexts and is never neutral.
to act in an obsequious way toward someone important in order to gain advantage
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