score points

score points

To do something that receives a positive reaction or enhances one's reputation or standing with someone. I scored some points with my mother-in-law by offering to wash the dishes after the big meal. You're not going to score any points with the coach by showing up late to practice. Ben thinks he can score points with Leslie by donating to the fundraising campaign she's promoting.
See also: point, score
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

score points

COMMON
1. If someone scores points off you, they make themselves seem better or more intelligent than you in a discussion or argument. In the next session group members agreed to consider each other's contributions rather than use them to score points off each other. He has been trying hard not to appear as though he was using the situation to score political points. Note: You can refer to this type of behaviour as point-scoring. It is hard to see what an inquiry is going to achieve, other than some political point-scoring. Note: This expression is often used to show that someone is more interested in making an opponent look foolish than in saying or doing anything useful.
2. If you score points, you do something that impresses someone or makes them like you. These companies are hoping to score points with consumers and businesses by helping them to organize the information stored on their hard drives.
See also: point, score
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

score points (off)

deliberately make yourself appear superior to someone else by making clever remarks.
1986 Jack Batten Judges There's nothing condescending or cruel about his wit. He doesn't score points off the people in the prisoners' box. He doesn't take advantage.
See also: point, score
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌscore a ˈpoint/ˈpoints (off/over/against somebody)

(especially British English) defeat somebody in an argument; deliberately say something that makes somebody appear stupid: Why don’t you try to solve the problem instead of scoring points over each other? I don’t like David. He’s always trying to score points off everybody. ▶ ˈpoint-scoring noun: political point-scoring
See also: point, score
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • score a point/points
  • make points
  • make points (with someone)
  • have had enough of (someone or something)
  • push someone's buttons, to
  • leave (someone or something) in the hands of (one)
  • (one's) old lady
  • a blot on (one's) escutcheon
  • a blot on the escutcheon
  • a blot on your escutcheon
References in periodicals archive
Politicians try to score points by promising to curb crime, but in their hearts they must know this is not in their power.
Letter: YOUR SHOUT - Powerless to curb crime
Only if you believe that pseudo-scientific tools like "spin indexes,' which measure a story's political "spin,' can prove honest in the face of the authors' determination to score points against the press.
The media elite
The deadline for entering teams that will score points for the whole of February is 12:30pm on Saturday.
You'll be fab in Feb; pounds 275,000 YOU THE MANAGER FANTASY FOOTBALL07/08 in partnership with betnow
Teams try to correctly predict the number of tricks they will win, and score points if they reach their target.
Basics of popular card pastime
"As for making us sit out the rally, this is a brand new car and it's not likely to score points anyway."
McRae's Martini bid on the rocks
While you may not be able to convince a negative teacher, you may be able to score points with teachers and parents.
Dealing with chronic complainers. (A.D.ministration)
The report was generated using aggregate student data from North Carolina public schools, including charter schools, and provides information regarding student performance at the state level at each of the score points for grades 4, 7, and 10.
Report of Student Performance in Writing, 2000-2001: Grades 4, 7, and 10. North Carolina Testing Program
I will certainly be doing my best to deliver in qualifying but, of course, with my focus on finishing the race and taking any opportunity that we have to score points.'
Jaguar aims to score points at finish line
1) Countries score points as follows: You get one point for every real-life point a country scores - win, lose or draw.
Rugby Union: Be on top Down Under in our pounds 50,000 competition
It's a political trade-off that bears a striking similarity to how our elected officials are willing to oppose our equal rights, like the right to marry, to score points with small-minded constituents.
In search of gay Egypt. (my perspective)
We need to race and score points, as that is the main thing from a weekend.
FORMULA ONE: Raikkonen fears McLaren no-go hits title hopes
Red Bull are definitely going to score points this year."
Motor Racing: Coulthard satisfied with Red Bull debut
4 At which two grands prix did Toro Rosso outcast Sebastien Bourdais score points this season?
QUIZ TIME
DAVID COULTHARD believes Saturday's qualifying session will make or break his bid to score points in a landmark Hungarian Grand Prix.
MOTOR RACING: Coulthard's landmark
At the same time, Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis refused to let the issue of Noriega's indictment on drug trafficking die, accusing Reagan-Bush of negotiating with dope peddlers." Bashing Noriega-who, though important to the Medellin cartel's activities, was by no means the boss of the operation-was a cheap way for politicians on both sides of the partisan stripe to score points with the voters.
Panama: The Whole Story