noun
toady
TOH-dee
noun
1
Someone who flatters and fawns over others, especially those in power, to gain favor.
"The manager surrounded himself with toadies who never questioned his decisions."
verb
1
To act in a servile, flattering way toward someone.
"He toadied to the board members whenever they visited."
How to Use Toady
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA yes-man; someone who sucks up to people in authority for personal gain.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "toad" itself — a toady is a person who flatters, not the amphibian.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
more toady comparative, toadied past tense, toadies plural, toadies singular, most toady superlative
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Etymology
A shortened form of "toad-eater" — originally a quack doctor's assistant who pretended to eat toads (thought poisonous) so the doctor could "cure" them, hence a servile helper.