to be a pawn for somebody?

[Torsten]

I understand that to be a pawn for somebody means to lick somebody's boots. How commonly used is this idiom and what exactly does it mean if you say "he is no pawn for big businesss"?

Thanks,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Mister Micawber]

.
Not lick someone's boots at all, to my mind. A pawn is someone who (often unknowingly) does something for another's advantage.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Torsten]

So if somebody is no pawn for big business, the person isn't doing anything for the advantage of big business?
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Mister Micawber]

.
Yes, that's how I would interpret it-- he is not under the thumb of Big Business.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Torsten]

Makes perfect sense now, Charles. Thanks a lot!
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary