apple-polish

Also found in: Idioms.

ap′ple-pol`ish



v.i.
1. to curry favor; toady.
v.t.
2. to curry favor with.
[1930–35]
ap′ple pol`isher, ap′ple-pol`ish•er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

apple-polish

verb
Informal. To support slavishly every opinion or suggestion of a superior:
bootlick, cringe, fawn, grovel, kowtow, slaver, toady, truckle.
Informal: brownnose, cotton.
Slang: suck up.
Idioms: curry favor, dance attendance, kiss someone's feet, lick someone's boots.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Mentioned in
References in periodicals archive
He also includes a glossary of more than 150 euphemisms for flattery (apple-polish, blow smoke, curry favor, kiss up, kowtow, laud, puffery, schmeer, toady, snow job, stroke, suck-up, sycophant and yes-man).
Essay: Kissing Up and Looking Out & You're Too Kind: A Brief History of Flattery
Kids who want to "apple-polish" their teachers might consider a gift of chocolate.
TEACHERS PREFER CHOCOLATE TO APPLES
Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.