dance attendance on

Idioms and Phrases

Wait on attentively and obsequiously, obey someone's every wish or whim. For example, He expected his secretary to dance attendance on him so she quit her job . This expression alludes to the old custom of making a bride dance with every wedding guest. In the 1500s it was used first to mean “await” an audience with someone, but by about 1600 it had acquired its present meaning. Also see at someone's beck and call .

Example Sentences

Servants dance attendance on this obstreperous youngster, whose haughtiness is no doubt inflamed by her cold, aristocratic mother and distracted military captain father.

From Los Angeles Times

She otherwise prides herself on a low-maintenance approach to red carpet preparations, dispensing with the retinue of stylists, groomers and assorted handlers who customarily dance attendance on the stars.

From New York Times

I was not at all disposed to dance attendance on them.

From Project Gutenberg

He began to dance attendance on his crew as if they were patients and he their doctor.

From Project Gutenberg

You've just got back from the other end of the town, tired and hungry, and off you run again, without eating a morsel, to dance attendance on her.

From Project Gutenberg