apple-polish
Seek unearned favor
To apple-polish is to curry favor through flattery or attentive behavior, especially toward someone in authority.
The image is of a student bringing a shiny apple to the teacher.
An apple-polisher is someone who does this habitually: He's always apple-polishing the boss.
The term carries a note of contempt for the ingratiating behavior.
Servile flattery for advantage
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- grovelHumble oneself servilely
- kowtowExcessive deference shown physically
- fawnYoung deer, or flatter
brown-nose · suck up · kiss up · curry favor · flunky · yes-man · lackey · minion
Flatter insincerely for advantage
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
- complimentWords expressing approval
- praiseExpression of approval
- adulatePraise to excess
charm · schmooze · soft-soap · cajole · coax · lay it on thick · smooth-talk · blandishment
Excessively submissive, lacking independence
- subservientExcessively eager to obey
- obsequiousServilely attentive to superiors
- deferentialShowing humble submission
- unctuousExcessively and insincerely earnest
cringing · groveling · meek · submissive · compliant · docile · slavish · biddable
Seek another's approval
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- conniveSecretly cooperate in wrongdoing
- angle forPursue indirectly or slyly
play politics · work the room · social climbing · opportunism · ulterior motive · self-serving · advancement · careerism
bootlicking
Servile flattery for advantage
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- grovelHumble oneself servilely
- kowtowExcessive deference shown physically
fawn · brown-nose · suck up · kiss up · curry favor · flunky · yes-man · lackey · minion · doormat
butter up
Flatter insincerely for advantage
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
- complimentWords expressing approval
- praiseExpression of approval
adulate · charm · schmooze · soft-soap · cajole · coax · lay it on thick · smooth-talk · blandishment · honeyed words
servile
Excessively submissive, lacking independence
- subservientExcessively eager to obey
- obsequiousServilely attentive to superiors
- deferentialShowing humble submission
unctuous · cringing · groveling · meek · submissive · compliant · docile · slavish · biddable · self-abasing
ingratiate
Seek another's approval
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- conniveSecretly cooperate in wrongdoing
angle for · play politics · work the room · social climbing · opportunism · ulterior motive · self-serving · advancement · careerism
- flatteryflatter, praise, flattery, compliment, compliments
apple-polishspeak truth to power
Criticize those in charge
tell it like it is · level with · speak one's mind · call it as one sees it · be authentic
apple-polishdefy
Resist or challenge openly
rebel · resist · insubordinate · talk back · stand up to
polish, polished, polishing, apple-polishing, polisher, polishers, apple-polisher