brown noser

See also: brownnoser and brown-noser

English

Alternative forms

• brown-noser
• brownnoser

Etymology

A metaphorical image: when kissing the buttocks of another person, one's nose is liable to be covered in brown feces.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

brown noser (plural brown nosers)

1. (idiomatic) One who brownnoses (flatters or humors somebody in an obsequious manner for personal gain); one who sucks up; a bootlicker, dickrider, ass-kisser, sycophant.
   • 2021 September 16, John Cochran, “The Spy Humongous” (4:58 from the start), in Star Trek: Lower Decks‎^[1], season 2, episode 6, spoken by Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome):

     “Unbelievable. Boimler's cozying up with those brownnosers to get out of trash day? Such a great call.” “More trash for the rest of us. I smell adventure.”

   • 2023 August 31, William Meny & Paul Simms, “A Weekend at Morrigan Manor” (19:48 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows‎^[2], season 5, episode 9, spoken by Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch):

     “W-wait, why isn't Gumball in here with us?” [Laszlo chuckles] “Because Guillermo is the only one out of all of you that has ever shown me any kindness.” “[coughs] Brownnoser.” “And yet you all treat him so shabbily that even after all this time of waiting to become one of you... he's force to give up and take matters into his own hands.”

Synonyms

• brown-nose
• See also Thesaurus:sycophant

Translations

one who brownnoses — see brownnose

Anagrams

• nonbrowser