brown nose

brownnose

1. verb To try to curry favor with someone through flattery or favors in the hopes of getting something in return. I'm not doing well at all in math this year, so it seems like brownnosing the teacher is my only hope for a good grade! Don't brownnose me with chocolates and sweet talk—just tell me what you want!
2. noun One who seeks out the approval, attention, and/or support of others, especially superiors, through abject subservience, flattery, or fawning. Tim is such an obvious brownnose, always complementing the boss on her ideas and saying yes to anything she suggests.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

brown nose

Solicit favor obsequiously, toady. For example, Harry was always brown nosing, but it didn't help his grades. This term originated in the military in the late 1930s, where it meant "to curry favor"; it alludes to ass-kissing when the backside being kissed is less than clean. Despite its scatological origin, today this slangy term is not considered particularly vulgar.
See also: brown, nose
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • brownnose
  • brown-nose
  • nosing
  • get in (someone's) good books
  • curry favor
  • curry favor with
  • curry favor with (one)
  • curry favor, to
  • curry favour
  • shine up to (one)
References in periodicals archive
Following my piece last week, a reader suggests that after Blair, Peter expects to receive the OBN (Order of the Brown Nose).
Bad cop show is criminal; THE VOICE OF MERSEYSIDE
Aguinis' 1998 survey of Cornell University MBA alumni showed that nearly 35 percent of employees brown nose at least once a week.
The Gray Line driver's seat: Liz Smith runs without a dimmer switch
Mrs Choccyface - she gets her name from her brown nose - is the guinea pig with everything ...even her own bank account bulging with cash from her TV and radio appearances.
Mrs Choccyface has got her furry own piggy bank
A decade ago it would have seemed as likely as Saddam Hussein shaking George Bush's hand rather than his neck, or Tony Blair emerging from his master's lair minus his trademark brown nose.
Welsh Tory corpse has revived... and now it's talking our language; No return to bad old days of Vulcan Redwood
HAVING, in recent weeks, forfeited any claim to the title of jockeys' apologist, and probably now having fewer friends in the weighing room than Dermot Weld has in Australia, I rest easy in the knowledge that I can stick up for one of our wiry friends without being awarded the dreaded OBN - the Order of the Brown Nose.
A cautious withdrawal was called for in the Mr Ed case
Among fascinating anecdotes about his insecurity and fear of rejection at elections (occupational hazard for politicians, Peter), there is also a real candidate for an Order of the Brown Nose award.
Sweet talking; Assembly Westgate
When George Bush was in town, every day was Brown Nose Day for Blair.
At least he's Gord a good sense of humour
Lastly, in memory of the fawning media celebrations of the Queen's Golden Jubilee, the Brown Nose Award goes to the entire Dimbleby family.
Victor Lewis-Smith's column: THE VICS: THAT'S SHOW-UP BUSINESS
There were dozens of EastEnders and showbiz stars who sat and hoped they'd be asked to brown nose darling Babs, or just sat and laughed politely.
WEEKEND; Beeb made a boob of Babs' night of glory
Shamelessly hurling compliments in the direction of Minority Report's creators, he made a pathetic attempt to brown nose his way to a new movie role.
3am: Nick's Spiel is embarrassing
Maybe next year you should stick to your Brown Nose day with the junior Royals.
Brian Reade's column: Packet in, Billy
You even admitted it in your headline "Brown nose day".
City Slickers: Dear Slickers
So don't insult the best fans in the country because Pardew didn't kneel before you like most of the other Premiership brown noses."
TWEETS & POSTS
Oscar and Timothy wiggled their little brown noses.
I forgot to tell you
His targets on this occasion were blacks, Asians, persons whom he referred to as brown noses and surprisingly persons who were then referred to as "spastic".
Letter: A great talent... for cheap jokes?