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-polisher
noun
as in brownnoser
a person who flatters another in order to get ahead a transparent apple-polisher whose fulsome praise fooled no one Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- brownnoser
- fawner
- toady
- minion
- parasite
- fan
- sponge
- lickspittle
- sycophant
- slave
- bootlicker
- henchman
- pupil
- admirer
- company man
- devotee
- flunky
- flunkie
- flunkey
- camp follower
- partisan
- satellite
- suck-up
- running dog
- disciple
- leech
- follower
- adherent
- worshipper
- sponger
- lackey
- enthusiast
- apparatchik
- cultist
- groveler
- zealot
- idolator
- convert
- worshiper
- votary
- yes-man
- idolater
- lapdog
- partizan
- me-tooer
- stooge
- hanger-on