brown-noser

USAGE SUMMARY

"brown-noser" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone who flatters or ingratiates themselves with someone in authority. Example: "He’s such a brown-noser, always agreeing with the boss to get ahead." Alternative expressions include "sycophant," "toady," and "flatterer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

At the end of his senior year, he was elected Biggest Brown-Noser.

The New Yorker

When Ryan actually was in high school — Joseph A. Craig High School, in Janesville — he was the kind who joined a million clubs, befriended teachers and was recognized in his yearbook as his class's Biggest Brown-Noser.

The New York Times

In their baffling, contemptible wrong-headedness they stand with every boss who passed us over for promotion in favor of some less-able brown-noser and every crush who wouldn't date us.

The New York Times - Magazine

Last month, Sidney Blumenthal, a journalist turned Clinton brown-noser, published an 800-page tome on the subject that is as tediously one-sided as anything the old rogue's conservative critics have ever put out (which is saying something).

The Economist

John McCain tells Jon Stewart he wants Dwight Schrute, the brown-noser from "The Office," as his running mate and he thinks his Secret Service code name is "jerk":.

The New York Times

Sure, it might mark you down as something of a DfES stooge or New Labour brown-noser, but having the title Sir or Dame on your credit card is hard to resist.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

He's a staff writer for the magazine The Brown Jug, and he's the co-editor-in-chief of The Brown Noser, a campus satirical newspaper.

Huffington Post

Brown-nosers, 2003, Prague.

Vice

I'm sure we've all encountered schmoozing in the workplace, with potent brown-nosers seeming to flatter their way to the top.

Huffington Post

In business, powerful people are surrounded by an army of brown-nosers whose sole job it is to stroke the ego of the boss.

Huffington Post

It depicted every European nation as an insulting, offensive stereotype—France, for instance, was holding a banner that said, "STRIKE!" And then there was Brown-nosers, a pair of sculptures that resembled the rear ends of a pair of bent-over giants.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reserve the term for contexts where the speaker's disapproval is clear, as it is inherently pejorative and derogatory.

Common error

Avoid omitting the hyphen when using the term as a noun. While "brown noser" is sometimes seen, the standard form in major publications like The New York Times is the hyphenated "brown-noser". Additionally, remember that it is a person-based noun; do not confuse it with the verb form "to brown-nose".

Linguistic Context

In a grammatical sense, "brown-noser" functions as a count noun. It is a compound term used to categorize individuals based on their perceived behavior towards authority figures. Ludwig examples show it frequently appearing after the verb "be" or as an appositive to a specific person's name.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "brown-noser" is a widely recognized and usable term in English for describing someone who uses insincere flattery to gain favor. According to Ludwig AI, the term is correctly used and very common in high-quality journalism. It functions as a sharp, descriptive noun that, while informal, effectively communicates a specific type of social manipulation. Writers should be mindful of its pejorative nature and generally avoid it in strictly formal business environments, opting instead for terms like "sycophant". However, in editorial or creative contexts, it remains a powerful tool for social critique.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ass-kisser

A significantly more vulgar and blunt version of the same sentiment.

sycophant

A formal and academic equivalent used in professional or literary contexts.

toady

A slightly more old-fashioned term implying a subservient or parasitic relationship.

bootlicker

Carries a harsher, more aggressive connotation of extreme subservience.

flatterer

A neutral alternative that focuses on the act of praise without the vulgar imagery.

yes-man

Specifically refers to someone who agrees with everything a superior says to maintain favor.

apple-polisher

A milder, more idiomatic and slightly dated way to describe a suck-up.

fawner

Emphasizes the behavioral display of exaggerated affection or praise.

lackey

Focuses on the status of the person as a lowly servant or follower.

teacher's pet

Specifically limited to an educational context rather than general life or business.

FAQs

What is a more formal word for "brown-noser"?

If you need a professional or academic alternative, you should use "sycophant" or "obsequious" person instead of "brown-noser".

Is "brown-noser" considered offensive?

Yes, "brown-noser" is an insulting term. While it is common in journalism and casual speech, it is not as aggressive as "bootlicker" or "ass-kisser".

Can I use "brown-noser" in a business email?

Generally, no. It is too informal and derogatory for professional correspondence. You might instead say someone is "overly conciliatory" or "eager to please".

How do you spell "brown-noser" correctly?

The most widely accepted spelling is the hyphenated form, "brown-noser". Writing it as two separate words like "brown noser" is less common in edited text.