1
general::
Also, kiss up to. Seek or gain favor by fawning or flattery, as in I am not going to kiss ass to get the raise I deserve, or If I could find a good way to kiss up to the publisher, my book would be well promoted. The first, a vulgar slangy usage, was first recorded in 1705 as kiss arse, which is still the British usage. The variant, a euphemistic blend of kiss ass and SUCK UP TO, dates from the late 1900s.
American Heritage Idioms