apple-polish
verb
ap·ple-pol·ish ˈa-pəl-ˌpä-lish 
apple-polished; apple-polishing; apple-polishes
intransitive verb
: to attempt to ingratiate oneself : toady
transitive verb
: to curry favor with (as by flattery)
apple-polisher noun
Synonyms
- bootlick
- fawn
- fuss
- kowtow
- suck (up)
- toady
- truckle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
from the traditional practice of schoolchildren bringing a shiny apple as a gift to their teacher
First Known Use
1926, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
apple-polish
verb
as in to curry favor
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior a departmental supervisor who apple-polishes shamelessly whenever higher-ups are about Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- curry favor
- fuss
- kiss up to
- fawn
- toady
- drool
- truckle
- kowtow
- court
- submit
- bootlick
- defer
- suck (up)
- woo
- slaver
- ingratiate
- endear
- blandish
- gush
- worship
- coax
- slobber
- idolize
- cringe
- flatter
- overpraise
- cajole
- adulate
- cower
- demean
- grovel
- yield
- debase
- soft-soap
- abase
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- despise
- disdain
- scorn
- challenge
- jibe
- brave
- defy
- scoff
- jeer
- gibe