夤缘 yínyuán
[try to advance one's career by carrying favour with important people;make use of one's connections to climb up] 本指攀附上升,后喻攀附权贵,向上巴结
乔松孤立,萝茑夤缘,柔附凌云,岂曰能贤。——《旧唐书·令孤楚牛僧孺传赞》
夤缘得官
攀缘上升。
《文选.左思.吴都赋》:「夤缘山岳之屺,幂历江海之流。」
比喻攀附权贵以求进身。
《初刻拍案惊奇.卷二○》:「况且一清如水,俸资之外,毫不苟取,那有钱财夤缘?」
英语 to curry favor, to advance one's career by toadying