Word Study
toadeater
CIDE DICTIONARY
toadeater, n. [Said to be so called in allusion to an old alleged practice among mountebanks' boys of eating toads (popularly supposed to be poisonous), in order that their masters might have an opportunity of pretending to effect a cure. The French equivalent expression is un avaleur de couleuvres. Cf. Toady.].
A fawning, obsequious parasite; a mean sycophant; a flatterer; a toady. V. Knox. [1913 Webster]
"You had nearly imposed upon me, but you have lost your labor. You're too zealous a toadeater, and betray yourself." [1913 Webster]
ROGET THESAURUS
toadeater
Flatterer
N flatterer, adulator, eulogist, euphemist, optimist, encomiast, laudator, whitewasher, toady, toadeater, sycophant, courtier, Sir Pertinax MacSycophant, flaneur, proneur, puffer, touter, claqueur, clawback, earwig, doer of dirty work, parasite, hanger-on, yes-man, suckup, ass-kisser, brown-noser, teacher's pet, pessimum genus inimicorum laudantes.For further exploring for "toadeater" in Webster Dictionary Online