媚こびを売うる

こ

び

を

う

る

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ru)

coquet; flirt; entice a customer

Specifically refers to a woman using charm or seductive behavior to attract a man, or a prostitute enticing a customer. Often carries a negative or transactional connotation.

彼かの女じょは男おとこに媚こびを売うって、高たかいプレゼントをもらった。
She coquetted with the man and got an expensive present.
その娼

しょう

婦ふ

は

通とお

り

で

客きゃく

に

媚こ

び

を

売う

っ

て

い

た

。

The prostitute was enticing customers on the street.

2

expression, godan verb (-ru)

flatter; butter up; suck up

General use for trying to gain favor through flattery or ingratiating behavior, not limited to women. Can be used for anyone currying favor with a superior or someone in power.

彼かれは上じょう司しに媚こびを売うって昇しょう進しんした。
He buttered up his boss and got promoted.
あの政せい治じ家かは有ゆう権けん者しゃに媚こびを売うる発はつ言げんばかりしている。
That politician keeps making remarks that flatter the voters.

Written forms

媚こびを売うる
Most common spelling; the okurigana び makes the reading clear.
媚こびを売うる
Kanji spelling using 媚; less common than 媚びを売る but still encountered.

Kanji

媚flatter, humor, flirt
売sell

Similar words

お世せ辞じを言いう
お世辞を言う means to pay a compliment, often insincere but usually verbal and less about servile behavior. 媚びを売る implies a more active, sometimes physical or persistent effort to ingratiate oneself.
ご機き嫌げんを取とる
ご機嫌を取る focuses on placating or cheering someone up, often after a conflict or to avoid displeasure. 媚びを売る is more about proactively seeking favor through flattery or charm.

Etymology

The expression combines 媚び (from 媚びる, 'to flatter' or 'to coquet') with を売る ('to sell'), literally 'to sell flattery/coquetry'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it has been used since at least the Edo period.