brown nose
/ˈbraʊn ˌnoʊz/
verb
- To try to get someone's approval or favor by flattering them, especially a boss or teacher.
- He always brown-noses the manager by complimenting his ideas in meetings.
- She refused to brown-nose anyone, even if it meant missing out on a promotion.
- Some students brown-nose the teacher to get better grades.
noun
- A person who flatters someone in authority to gain favor.
- She didn't want to be seen as a brown-nose, so she kept her opinions honest.
- Everyone in the office thinks he's a brown-nose because he always agrees with the boss.
- The new intern was such a brown-nose that the other workers avoided him.
Synonyms