brownnose

See also: brown-nose

English

Etymology

brown +‎ nose; scatological.

Pronunciation
  • Audio (AU)(file)

Noun

brownnose (plural brownnoses)

  1. (figurative) One who sucks up; a bootlicker, ass-kisser, sycophant.
    • 1997, Ulrich Herbert, Hitler's foreign workers: enforced foreign labor in Germany under the Third Reich, Cambridge University Press, page 126:
      A workmate reported the matter, "which is why the worker threatened to beat up the latter," calling him a "brownnose" and threatening to "wipe the floor with him."
    • 2007, Felicity Young, An Easeful Death, Fremantle Press, page 13:
      'I know, he's a natural brownnose. I guess he does have some talents.'
    • 2010, Joseph Morse, Gods of Ruin: A Political Thriller,, page 46:
      You don't have to be such a brownnose, at least not to me.

Synonyms

Translations

Verb

brownnose (third-person singular simple present brownnoses, present participle brownnosing, simple past and past participle brownnosed)

  1. To flatter someone (especially a superior) in an obsequious manner, and to support their every opinion.

Translations
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