apple-polish

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.

Thesaurus

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.