court favor
Học thuậtThân thiện
The employee is trying to court favor by offering to help with the extra work.
Definition
Verb (transitive or intransitive) To attempt to gain approval, support, or preferential treatment from someone, especially a person in authority, through obsequious, ingratiating, or flattering behavior. The action implies a calculated effort to win someone's goodwill, often for personal advantage.
Usage and Examples
The verb phrase "court favor" describes the act of deliberately trying to please someone powerful.
- He was accused of courting favor with the new manager by constantly praising her ideas.
- Politicians are often seen courting favor with influential donors.
- She refused to court favor and preferred to succeed based on her own merits.
Advanced Usage and Notes
- The object of the effort is typically introduced with the preposition "with" (e.g., court favor the boss).
- The phrase carries a generally negative connotation, suggesting insincerity, servility, or manipulation rather than genuine respect or admiration.
- It can be used in both continuous ("is courting favor") and simple tenses ("courted favor").
Variants and Related Words
- Court favour: The British English spelling.
- Curry favor: A more common synonym with identical meaning and usage. (Note: This is listed separately as it is a distinct, though synonymous, phrasal verb).
- Ingratiate oneself: A more formal synonym meaning to bring oneself into favor.
- Fawn (upon/over): A verb meaning to flatter or display affection in a servile manner.
- Sycophancy (n.): The behavior or practice of a sycophant; obsequious flattery.
Synonyms
Seek favor, ingratiate oneself, flatter, toady, pander, suck up to (informal), butter up (informal), brown-nose (vulgar slang).
Antonyms
Defy, oppose, confront, displease, alienate, offend.
Idioms and Related Phrases
- Play up to someone: To flatter or try to please someone, especially to gain an advantage.
- Kiss up to someone (informal): To behave obsequiously toward someone in authority.
- Fall out of favor: To lose approval or support, the opposite result of courting favor.
The employee is trying to court favor by offering to help with the extra work.
Verb
- seek favor by fawning or flattery
- This employee is currying favor with his superordinates