夤缘攀附

to cling to the powerful and rich (idiom); social climbing

to curry favor; to advance one's career by toadying

lit. to cling to the high, connect to the rich (idiom); to try to attach oneself to the rich and powerful; social climbing

to curry favor (idiom); playing up to those in power; social climbing

to climb (of climbing plants); to creep

(idiom) to use claims to kinship or friendship to climb socially