flatter those in power(/in the ascendant/who get the upper hand) ? 有些～的，亦就一口一聲的觀察。(李寶嘉《官場現(xiàn)形記》三十五)Some people who liked to flatter those in power also kept on saying so while observing.
扯順風(fēng)旗chě shùn fēnɡ qí
多指靠阿諛奉承拍馬屁而得勢的家伙。start an undertaking at an opportune moment-flattery and achieve one’s own aims, flatter those in power