Is it OK to use the term 'sucks' in polite company?
i.e. where did the term come from?
specifically - did it come from oral sex? if so, then it would be a 'bad word'.
depends on the "polite company". You can judge.
It really isn't a "bad" word, I have used it around my students many times.
It did start from oral sex, but has developed beyond that, much the same as the word "jerk" started from the word that means self gratification (****off) but has evolved past the vulgarity.