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Glite Dictionary
to apple-polish

to apple-polish

9.0
To give praise that is not real to get a favor
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈæpəlˌpɑlɪʃ/
  • Informal
translation icon : adular
  • She tried to apple-polish her boss by complimenting his new suit excessively.

Examples

  • He often apple-polishes the manager to ensure he gets the best shifts at work.

  • The student thought she could apple-polish the teacher to get a better grade on the project.

  • It would be a mistake for an employee to seek a promotion through 'apple polishing' rather than performance.

    Blog text (20)

Synonyms

to flatter
vsto apple-polish
100 3.6

Praise someone with words you do not mean to get their help

is more specific about praise used to gain favour or advantage
to suck up
vsto apple-polish
  • Informal
26 8.0

To praise someone to get their approval

is similar but highlights flattery motivated by gaining favor
to kiss up
vsto apple-polish
  • Informal
16 7.9

Say nice things to someone to get their help or a reward

is the same tactic of false praise to obtain advantage
to butter up
vsto apple-polish
  • Informal
13 4.2

Say nice things to someone to get what you want

focuses likewise on insincere praise used to gain advantage
to curry favor
vsto apple-polish
  • US
10 7.4

To try to get someone to like you by praising them or being too helpful

shares the goal of winning favor by insincere actions
to kiss ass
vsto apple-polish
  • Offensive
8 9.5

To try to please someone in power to get an advantage

refers to the same insincere praise tactic to gain favor
to brown-nose
vsto apple-polish
  • Offensive
4 8.2

To flatter someone in power without meaning it to get their favor

is the same idea of praising falsely to gain favor or advantage
to play up
vsto apple-polish
  • Informal
1 5.5

Try to get someone's approval by giving false praise

expresses the same insincere praise but can be more casual
to court favor
vsto apple-polish
1 6.8

To try to get someone's approval by praising them a lot

is similar but narrowly notes praise aimed at gaining goodwill
to lick someone's boot
vsto apple-polish
  • Offensive
8.9

Praise or act very friendly toward a boss to get something for yourself

shares servile intent but focuses on insincere praise for favor

Antonyms

to undermine
270 6.8

Weaken a person or system slowly, often in secret, so it does not work well

to disparage
28 7.7

To speak badly about someone or something to show little respect

How Flattering

to toady
1 9.1
to butter up
  • Informal
13 4.2
to apple-polish
  • Informal
9.0
to flatter
100 3.6
to praise
331 1.0
compliment
342 1.6

Surface Forms

apple-polish infinitive
apple-polished past
apple-polished past participle
apple-polishing present participle
apple-polishes third person singular

Morphology

apple-polish = apple + polish (opaque) = apple + polish

Although composed of recognizable words, the idiomatic sense 'to flatter' cannot be predictably derived from the literal meanings by an average learner.

Etymology

Apple-polish comes from an old school image: students once gave teachers apples, and a student trying to win favor might 'polish' the apple to 'make it shiny'. So to apple-polish someone means to flatter them in a 'not sincere' way to get favor or advantage.