apple-polishes
Seeks teacher's approval
Apple-polishes means to curry favor through flattery or attentive behavior, from the stereotype of a student bringing an apple to the teacher: She apple-polishes the boss by laughing at every joke.
The term carries a faintly contemptuous tone, suggesting the behavior is transparent or insincere.
Servile flatterer of superiors
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- brownnoserServile flatterer seeking favor
- fawnerOne who flatters servilely
- yes-manUncritical agreeable subordinate
suck-up · lickspittle · flunky · groveler · adulator · backscratcher · doormat · stooge
Attracts or delights
- disarmsRemoves threat potential
- endearsMakes oneself beloved
- insinuatesSuggests something indirectly
- cultivatesNurtures toward growth
courts · woos · befriends · glad-hands · brown-noses · toadies · ingratiates
Expressions of admiration
- praisesVerbally commends
- laudsExpresses high admiration
- extolsPraises enthusiastically
- commendsFormally praises or endorses
acclaims · sweet-talks · soft-soaps · gushes · fawns · schmoozes · smooth-talks · blandishes
Shows servile deference
- kowtowsBows in servile respect
- bowsRespectful forward bends
- scrapesShallow surface injuries
- genuflectsBends knee in reverence
defers · submits · acquiesces · capitulates · yields · obeys · complies · cringes
bootlicker
Servile flatterer of superiors
- toadyObsequious flatterer seeking favor
- brownnoserServile flatterer seeking favor
- fawnerOne who flatters servilely
yes-man · suck-up · lickspittle · flunky · groveler · adulator · backscratcher · doormat · stooge · flatterer
charms
Attracts or delights
- disarmsRemoves threat potential
- endearsMakes oneself beloved
- insinuatesSuggests something indirectly
cultivates · courts · woos · befriends · glad-hands · brown-noses · toadies · ingratiates
compliments
Expressions of admiration
commends · acclaims · sweet-talks · soft-soaps · gushes · fawns · schmoozes · smooth-talks · blandishes · cajoles
grovels
Shows servile deference
genuflects · defers · submits · acquiesces · capitulates · yields · obeys · complies · cringes · fawns
apple-polishesdefies
Openly resists or challenges
stands up to · challenges · resists · opposes · talks back
apple-polishescriticizes
Expresses unfavorable judgment
disparages · insults · badmouths · tears down · belittles
apple, apples, polish, polishes, polished, polishing, polisher, polishers, apple-polish