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attendance

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dance attendance (up)on (someone)

To perform assiduously and obsequiously any task required or requested by someone. After earning his fortune, he now has servants constantly dancing attendance on him. He's always dancing attendance upon us so that we'll let him hang out with us.

See also: attendance, dance

take attendance

to make a record of persons attending something. The teacher took attendance before starting the class. I will take attendance each day.

See also: attendance, take

dance attendance on

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.

See also: attendance, dance, on

dance attendance on

To attend to or try to please (someone) with eagerness or obsequiousness.

See also: attendance, dance, on