pay court to sb1 ATTENTION old-fashioned to give someone a lot of attention to try and make them like you 向某人献殷勤，讨好某人pay court to somebody• Elton had paid court to Miss Smith for a month, but had made no progress.
→ pay court to somebody at court1(2)
2 old-fashioned to treat someone, especially a woman, carefully and with respect, so that they will like you or help you （向某人）大献殷勤，讨好（某人）〔尤指女人〕 → pay court (to somebody) at pay1(10)