Meaning & use
curry favor
To try to gain someone's approval or support through flattery or obsequious behavior.
See it in a sentence
He brought coffee for the boss every morning, clearly trying to curry favor.
Some students curry favor with teachers by volunteering for every extra task.
A note on using this word
This idiom usually carries a negative connotation, implying insincere or self-serving flattery rather than genuine kindness.
Words with a similar meaning
ingratiate oneselfflatter
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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