brownnose

brown·nose

verb \ˈbrau̇(n)-ˌnōz\

Definition of BROWNNOSE

transitive verb

: to ingratiate oneself with : curry favor with

— brownnose noun

— brown·nos·er noun

Examples of BROWNNOSE

1. He has been brownnosing everyone in the company just to get a bigger office.

Origin of BROWNNOSE

from the implication that servility is equivalent to having one's nose in the anus of the person from whom advancement is sought

First Known Use: circa 1939

Rhymes with BROWNNOSE

appose, bluenose, compose, depose, dextrose, disclose, dispose, dog rose, enclose, expose, foreclose, fructose, glucose, hardnose, impose, Montrose, moss rose, musk rose, old rose, oppose, primrose, propose, pug nose, repose, rockrose, suppose, transpose, tuberose, unclose, viscose, wind rose