shine up to

VERB

cultivate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bolster cherish develop encourage enrich improve nourish promote refine

STRONG

advance ameliorate better civilize court discipline elevate foster further nurse nurture polish train

WEAK

bring on brown-nose butter up get in with get next to get on good side of play up to run after seek friendship suck up to take pains with

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abandon damage decrease hurt

STRONG

condemn halt ignore neglect stop worsen

WEAK

destroy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Fust he'd tried to shine up to Grace, but the shine—her part of it—had wore off.

From The Depot Master by Lincoln, Joseph Crosby

"But I never thought to shine up to her, as you hint."

From The Man of the Forest by Grey, Zane

By the way, you might shine up to Hilda Farrand and join the rest of the fortune-hunters.

From The Blazed Trail by White, Stewart Edward

I'm not trying to shine up to her.

From Graustark by McCutcheon, George Barr

I don' believe it'll do yuh any good, suh, to try to shine up to tha' young lady.

From Graustark by McCutcheon, George Barr