brownnose
verb
brown·nose ˈbrau̇(n)-ˌnōz 
brownnosed; brownnosing; brownnoses
transitive verb
informal + disparaging
: to ingratiate oneself with : curry favor with
brownnose noun
brownnoser noun
Example Sentences
He has been brownnosing everyone in the company just to get a bigger office.
Word History
Etymology
from the implication that servility is equivalent to having one's nose in the anus of the person from whom advancement is sought
First Known Use
1938, in the meaning defined above
brownnosers
noun
as in apple-polishers
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead surrounded himself with brainless brownnosers, so no wonder the company went down the tubes Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- apple-polishers
- minions
- fans
- toadies
- fawners
- sycophants
- parasites
- henchmen
- lickspittles
- bootlickers
- admirers
- devotees
- company men
- slaves
- pupils
- flunkeys
- sponges
- flunkies
- suck-ups
- running dogs
- camp followers
- partisans
- disciples
- followers
- grovelers
- adherents
- satellites
- lackeys
- leeches
- worshippers
- enthusiasts
- spongers
- apparatchiks
- zealots
- cultists
- stooges
- worshipers
- yes-men
- idolators
- apparatchiki
- me-tooers
- converts
- lapdogs
- idolaters
- partizans
- hangers-on
- votaries