trying too hard to please somebody, especially somebody who is important 谄媚的；巴结奉迎的 an obsequious manner 谄媚的态度 The waiters came hurrying forward with obsequious smiles on their faces. 服务员脸上含着不愉快的笑容，匆匆向前。 The service in the restaurant was attentive without being obsequious. 餐厅的服务周到而又不失礼貌。
Word Originlate 15th cent. (not originally in a negative sense): from Latin obsequiosus, from obsequium ‘compliance’, from obsequi ‘follow, comply with’.