Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

brown-nosing

Verb (slang)

/ˈbraʊn ˈnoʊzɪŋ/

Definition

The act of ingratiating oneself to someone in a position of power, especially through excessive flattery or sycophancy.

Examples

He was always brown-nosing the boss to get ahead in his career.
During the meeting, she realized that her colleague was simply brown-nosing to earn praise.
It’s unprofessional to engage in brown-nosing; genuine work should speak for itself.

Meaning

Brown-nosing refers to the practice of trying to gain favor with a superior or authority figure by flattering them or being overly agreeable, often perceived as insincere or obsequious.