PhrasesHub

Dance attendance on

    Definitions

      • to serve or wait on someone, often in a subservient manner
        The phrase is often used to describe someone who is overly attentive or eager to please someone else, often at the expense of their own time and needs.

      • to follow or pursue someone
        This meaning is often used in a negative or critical sense, describing someone who is constantly trying to be close to or get the attention of someone else, often to the point of annoyance.

    Examples of Dance attendance on

    • John danced attendance on his boss during the company dinner.

      This idiom is used to describe someone who follows and agrees with another person's opinions and requests to impress them or gain favor. In this example, John tries to please his boss by accompanying him during the dinner and agreeing with his opinions.

    • Sarah danced attendance on her party hostess by helping her decorate the venue and serving the guests.

      In this example, Sarah shows her dedication to pleasing the hostess by actively participating in the preparation of the party rather than just attending the event.

    • Emily danced attendance on her professor by visiting him during his office hours and demonstrating her hard work in his class.

      Emily understands the importance of pleasing her professor, particularly in his class, and goes beyond simply attending lectures by actively seeking his advice and guidance.

    • Mark danced attendance on his clients by meeting their every demand and delivering promised results.

      In this example, Mark understands the importance of pleasing his clients to maintain their satisfaction and loyalty, thus he makes every effort to meet their requirements.In all these examples, 'dancing attendance' is used to describe an individual's attempt to curry favor with someone else by demonstrating complete compliance and obedience to their requests or demands.

    • The manager danced attendance on the local magazine for an interview, hoping for some publicity for their store.

      'Dance attendance on' is used when someone obliges someone else's requests frequently. In the given example, the manager kept attending all the meetings and events at the local magazine to gain an interview. This process of attending events is similar to a student attending classes, where the student dances attendance on the school.

    • The sales team danced attendance on the bigwigs of the company to convince them about their new proposal.

      In this example, the sales team repeatedly met with the high-ranking executives in the company to persuade them of the merits of their new proposal. This continued persuasion of the executives is similar to a student attending classes, where the student dances attendance on the school.

    • She danced attendance on the guest list to secure an invitation to the ball.

      This example is different from the previous two. Here, the person repeatedly followed the guest list for a specific event to receive an invitation. In this case, 'dancing attendance' refers to the continuous process of trying to get selected for the event, similar to a student dancing attendance on the school to pass his/her exams.

    • The local councillor danced attendance on the community for their road safety campaign.

      In this example, the councillor attended all the community meetings related to their road safety campaign. This process of attending meetings and interacting with the community to promote their cause is similar to a student attending classes, where the student dances attendance on the school to learn.Conclusion:In each case, the phrase 'dance attendance on' is used to indicate someone repeatedly fulfilling someone else's requests. The examples given are varied, covering several different situations, which highlights the versatility of this idiom.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "dance attendance on" can be used to describe someone who is overly eager to please or serve someone else, often at their own expense. This can be seen as a negative trait, as it suggests a lack of self-respect and boundaries. It can also be used to describe someone who is constantly following or pursuing someone else, often in a clingy or annoying manner.

    Origin of "Dance attendance on"

    The origin of this idiom can be traced back to medieval times, when it was common for nobles and royalty to have a retinue of servants and attendants. These servants were expected to be highly obedient and attentive to their masters, and would often perform tasks such as dancing, singing, and entertaining to please them. The phrase "dance attendance on" was likely used to describe the act of serving and waiting on someone in a highly subservient manner.

    Over time, the phrase evolved to have a more negative connotation, as the idea of constantly serving and pleasing someone became seen as a sign of weakness or lack of self-respect. It also took on the meaning of constantly following or pursuing someone, perhaps as a result of the subservient connotations of the original usage. Today, the idiom is often used to describe someone who is overly eager or clingy in their efforts to please or follow someone else.