Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
brown-nose — (v.) also brownnose, 1939, American English colloquial, said to be military slang originally, from BROWN (Cf. brown) + NOSE (Cf. nose) (n.), from the implication that servility is tantamount to having one s nose in the anus of the person from… … Etymology dictionary
brown-nose — brown ,nose verb intransitive or transitive INFORMAL to try very hard to please someone important or powerful, for example by agreeing with them all the time, in a way that annoys other people: He had just brown nosed his way to the top. ╾ brown … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
brown-nose — /brown nohz /, v., brown nosed, brown nosing, n. Slang. v.i. 1. to curry favor; behave obsequiously. v.t. 2. to seek favors from (a person) in an obsequious manner; fawn over. n. 3. Also, brown noser. a toady; sycophant. Cf. ass kissing. [1935… … Universalium
brown-nose — ☆ brown nose [broun′nōz΄ ] vt., vi. brown nosed, brown nosing [from the image of currying favor by kissing someone s buttocks] Slang to seek favor or approval from (someone) by obsequious behavior; fawn (on) n. Slang one who brown noses: also… … English World dictionary
brown-nose — v [I and T] informal to try to make someone in authority like you by being very nice to them used in order to show disapproval >brown noser n >brown nosing n [U] … Dictionary of contemporary English
brown nose — When someone tries to make themselves popular with somebody, usually in a position of authority, especially by flattering them, they are brown nosing … The small dictionary of idiomes
brown-nose — brown′ nose v. nosed, nos•ing, n. Slang. 1) sts to curry favor 2) sts to seek favors from (a person) in an obsequious manner; fawn over 3) sts Also, brown′ nos er. a toady • Etymology: 1935–40 … From formal English to slang
brown-nose — verb flatter with the intention of getting something • Syn: ↑butter up • Hypernyms: ↑flatter, ↑blandish • Verb Frames: Somebody s somebody Sam cannot brown nose Sue * * * … Useful english dictionary
brown-nose — UK / US verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms brown nose : present tense I/you/we/they brown nose he/she/it brown noses present participle brown nosing past tense brown nosed past participle brown nosed informal, showing disapproval to try… … English dictionary
brown-nose — to flatter Not from exposure to the sun but from the figurative proximity of your proboscis to the anal area of the object of your sycophancy: Hungerford you missed the beginning but this is a course you can t fail so there is no need… … How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms
brown-nose — 1. AND brownie; brown noser n. a sycophant; one who flatters for self serving motives. □ You are just a plain old brown nose. □ That brown noser actually gave the boss a bottle of wine for her birthday. 2. tv. & in. to curry favor with someone;… … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
