brown-nose

[ broun-nohz ]

verb (used without object)

, brown-nosed, brown-nos·ing.

1. to curry favor; behave obsequiously.

verb (used with object)

, brown-nosed, brown-nos·ing.

1. to seek favors from (a person) in an obsequious manner; fawn over.

noun

1. Also brown-noser. a toady; sycophant.

brown nose

¹

noun

1. vet science a form of light sensitization in cattle

brown-nose

²

verb

1. to be abjectly subservient (to); curry favour (with)

noun

1. an abjectly subservient person; sycophant

Word History and Origins

Origin of brown-nose¹

First recorded in 1935–40; brown + nose

Word History and Origins

Origin of brown-nose¹

C20: from the notion that a subservient person kisses the backside of the person with whom he or she is currying favour

Idioms and Phrases

Solicit favor obsequiously, toady. For example, Harry was always brown nosing, but it didn't help his grades . This term originated in the military in the late 1930s, where it meant “to curry favor”; it alludes to ass-kissing when the backside being kissed is less than clean. Despite its scatological origin, today this slangy term is not considered particularly vulgar.

Example Sentences

Presently a brown nose appeared between the house and my hiding place.

From Project Gutenberg

Each was coal black except for a V-shaped white mark on the breast and a brown nose.

From Project Gutenberg

But the mother, who raised her brown nose suddenly from the cool mold out of which she had been digging lily-bulbs, had seen dogs.

From Project Gutenberg

Miss Amber had managed to shove her brown nose in front, with Regulator at her saddle girth.

From Project Gutenberg

Clay's dog put up his brown nose for a little attention, and got it.

From Project Gutenberg