Today’s Idiom
Word Breakdown
拍 (pāi) v. pat
马 (mǎ) n. horse
屁 (pì) n. butt(as in 屁股)
Quick Answer
Definition & Usage
这个词起源于一个古代风俗。相传元朝时的蒙古人，每家都养有几匹马。两人牵马相遇，都要拍拍对方马的屁股，摸摸马膘，并随口夸奖：“好马！好马！”以此来博得马主人的欢心。但是后来，有的人不管别人的马好坏、强弱，都只是称赞，把劣马也说成是好马了。所以，后来“拍马屁”就指不顾客观现实，一味夸赞、奉承来讨好别人。经常拍马屁的人也被称为“马屁精”。用法上，可以说“拍××的马屁”或“给××拍马屁”。
In the Yuan Dynasty, each Mongolian family had a few horses. When two people met each other leading their horses, they always patted the crupper and touched the fat of the other’s horse with casual praise “Good horse!”, they did this to please the horse owners. But later on, people would praise any horse no matter whether it was strong or not. Therefore, people use the phrase “拍马屁（pāi mǎpì)” to describe those who like to butter others up.
Usage:
拍 + somebody + 的马屁 给 + somebody + 拍马屁
People who are good at “拍马屁” are called “马屁精(mǎpì jīng)”, bootlickers, flatterers, ass-kissers.
Example Sentences
他没什么真本事，就会拍领导的马屁。
Tā méi shénme zhēn běnshi ,jiù huì pāi lǐngdǎo de mǎpì.
He has no capability but only be good at buttering his boss up.
其实，“拍马屁”也是很需要技巧和方法的，否则马屁就会拍到马腿上。
Qíshí, “pāimǎpì ”yě shì hěn xūyào jìqiǎo hé fāngfǎ de, fǒuzé mǎpì jìu huì pāi dào mǎtuǐ shàng.
In fact, brown-nosing also requires great skill and method. Otherwise, you will flatter others without achieving the desired purpose.
你单靠拍马屁是得不到提升的。
Nǐ dān kào pāimǎpì shì dé bù dào tíshēng de.
You are not going to get that promotion just by brown-nosing.