to court favor

Examples

• All

• "But there is little question that, without the election of Scott Brown, the Democrats probably wouldn't even need to court Graham's favor at all; they could probably garner enough votes without him, as they did for HCR."

  Blog text (32)

• Glitter-eyed, they nodded avidly, courted favor, and moved on.

  Fiction book (1995)

• In reality, McCain is trying to court favor with people he's been very hostile and nasty to over time.

  Blog text (16)

• They are seriously trying to court favor by suggesting the displeasure with the Bar is because we "hate what they (we) cannot understand."

  Blog text (20)

• So why does Big Tech suddenly feel the need to hire armies of lobbyists and spend fortunes courting the favor of Washington DC?

• To win the promotion, she decided to court favor with her boss by complimenting his latest project.

• The politician often courts favor with influential donors to secure funding for his campaign.

• He tried to court favor with his colleagues by bringing them coffee every morning.

Synonyms

F

to flatter

vsto court favor

100 3.6

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

adds an emphasis on ongoing obsequious conduct to obtain approval

C

to court

vsto court favor

54 5.5

To try to get someone's support by giving attention or praise

focuses more on flattering or servile actions to gain goodwill

B

to butter up

vsto court favor

• Informal

13 4.2

Say nice things to someone to get what you want

covers that tactic but also includes general submissive behavior beyond praise

C

to curry favor

vsto court favor

• US

10 7.4

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

emphasizes doing this specifically through flattery or submissive behavior

I

to ingratiate

vsto court favor

10 8.2

Try to make someone like you by praising them or doing kind things

is similar but stresses both flattery and obsequious conduct

B

to brown-nose

vsto court favor

• Offensive

4 8.2

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

is more general, applying to any flattering or obsequious attempt

T

to toady

vsto court favor

1 9.1

Flatter and obey someone in power to get their favor

covers that servile approach but also nonservile flattering strategies

S

to soft-soap

vsto court favor

• Informal

1 7.7

To try to persuade someone by giving false praise

is broader, covering praise plus obsequious actions to win approval

P

to play up

vsto court favor

• Informal

1 5.5

Try to get someone's approval by giving false praise

is similar but highlights persistent submissive behavior as well

B

to bootlick

vsto court favor

• Offensive

1 8.7

To praise or obey someone in power to get their support

is the broader concept of seeking approval by flattery or subservience

A

to apple-polish

vsto court favor

• Informal

9.0

To give praise that is not real to get a favor

is the neutral description of seeking approval by flattery or obsequiousness

Antonyms

O

to offend

524 2.8

Cause a person to feel hurt, upset and angry because of your words or actions

A

to alienate

123 6.7

To make someone feel alone and lose support from others

How Fawning

to grovel

42 7.4

to court favor

1 6.8

to butter up

• Informal

13 4.2

to flatter

100 3.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology