court favour
Definition
Verb phrase: - To deliberately try to gain someone's approval or preferential treatment, typically through insincere praise, excessive attentiveness, or flattery.
Usage
- This phrase describes the act of ingratiating oneself to a person in authority or influence.
- It often carries a negative connotation, implying the behavior is self-serving and not genuine.
- It is used with a direct object (the person whose favor is being sought).
Examples
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can be used in continuous tenses to emphasize the ongoing nature of the behavior.
- It can be followed by prepositional phrases like "with someone" or "from someone."
- She spent the entire conference courting favour with potential investors.
Variants and Related Words
- Court favor (verb phrase): The American English spelling variant.
- Curry favour (verb phrase): A synonymous phrase with identical meaning and usage. (Note: This is a separate, distinct phrase listed for reference).
- Fawn (verb): To display exaggerated affection or flattery.
- Ingratiate oneself (verb phrase): To bring oneself into favor with someone through deliberate effort.
Synonyms
- Butter up (informal)
- Suck up to (informal)
- Flatter
- Brown-nose (vulgar slang)
Related Idioms
- Apple-polishing: (Informal) Behaving in a servile or flattering way to gain favor.
- Play up to someone: To flatter or try to please someone, especially to gain an advantage.
Verb
-
seek favor by fawning or flattery
-
This employee is currying favor with his superordinates
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