apple-polish — American to seek favour or advancement by flattery You rub the skins to make them look more palatable: Why try to apple polish the dinge downstairs? (Chandler, 1939 dinge was an offensive term for a black person) Whence an apple… … How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms
apple-polish — apple polisher. apple polisher, n. /ap euhl pol ish/, Informal. v.i. 1. to curry favor with someone, esp. in an obsequious or flattering manner. v.t. 2. to curry favor with (someone). [1930 35] * * * … Universalium
apple-polish — apple pol·ish … English syllables
apple-polish — ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ intransitive verb : to attempt to ingratiate oneself : toady this called for some extra apple polishing by employees M.S.Davis transitive verb : to curry favor with (as by flattery or services) he hopes to pass the course by… … Useful english dictionary
apple-polish — verb To attempt to obtain favors, especially by flattery; to toady or fawn … Wiktionary
apple-polish — (Roget s Thesaurus II) 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… … English dictionary for students
apple-polish — v. (Slang) toady; curry favor, win favor by complimenting somebody, gain favor by using flattery … English contemporary dictionary
apple-polish — ap′ple pol ish v. i. 1) to curry favor; toady 2) cvb to curry favor with • Etymology: 1930–35 ap′ple pol isher, ap′ple pol ish•er, n … From formal English to slang
apple polish (to) — Flatter; BROWN NOSE … American business jargon
apple-polisher — noun see apple polish … New Collegiate Dictionary