Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- transitive verb To curry favor with in an obsequious manner; fawn on.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun idiomatic One who
brownnoses ; one whosucks up ; abootlicker ,ass -kisser ,sycophant . - verb To
flatter someone (especially a superior) in anobsequious manner, and to support their every opinion
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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And there are people who are in government because they are looking to brownnose the industries they are supposed to be regulating so they can get a really high paying lobbyist job after a few years in government.
Mike Lux: The Election War and the Internal War Mike Lux 2010
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Of course Goneril and Regan are only too happy to brownnose Dad.
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And there are people who are in government because they are looking to brownnose the industries they are supposed to be regulating so they can get a really high paying lobbyist job after a few years in government.
Mike Lux: The Election War and the Internal War Mike Lux 2010
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And there are people who are in government because they are looking to brownnose the industries they are supposed to be regulating so they can get a really high paying lobbyist job after a few years in government.
Mike Lux: The Election War and the Internal War Mike Lux 2010
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Why always the negative ... (we, know, to brownnose Obama) ...
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And there are people who are in government because they are looking to brownnose the industries they are supposed to be regulating so they can get a really high paying lobbyist job after a few years in government.
Mike Lux: The Election War and the Internal War Mike Lux 2010
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Do personal favors for him and brownnose all you want, but make sure you do it sincerely.
Alexandra Levit: The Corporate Freshman: 7 Ways to Make Your Boss Like You 2009
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And we have the student council secretary who tattles on everyone, you know, and wants to brownnose.
HOLLYWOOD INSIDER: 10 Things Producer Carter Covington talks high school 2009
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Maybe Joe, seeing the Dems picking up more Senate seats in '08, is trying to brownnose the Dems.
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How else will you be able to flirt/network/brownnose and cocktail all at the same time?
Celia Chen: Notes on a Party: The Logistics of Hors D'Oeuvres 2008
treeseed commented on the word brownnose
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
transitive verb
Etymology: from the implication that servility is equivalent to having one's nose in the anus of the person from whom advancement is sought
Date: circa 1939
: to ingratiate oneself with : curry favor with
— brownnose noun
— brown·nos·er noun
February 29, 2008