curry favor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "curry favor" is grammatically correct and should be used in written English.
It means to try to gain favor or approval through flattery or other means. Example: The politician was known for his constant attempts to curry favor with wealthy donors in order to fund his campaign.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

To curry favor with the interrogator?

The New York Times

Many are flocking to Mr. Ma, hoping to curry favor.

The New York Times

Did I try to curry favor with him?

The New York Times

A client might decide to hire a friend, want to curry favor or return past help.

The New York Times

He may also be trying to curry favor with Islamic states.

The New York Times

Several banks seem to have leaned heavily on their balance sheets to curry favor with Facebook.

The New York Times

My work is not based only on relationships or trying to curry favor".

The New York Times

Business executives seeking to curry favor with Mr. Bo and Mr. Wang sometimes approached Mr. Yu.

The New York Times

AMY DAVIDSON: Daniels says Obama has tried "to curry favor" with some Americans by "castigating" others.

The New Yorker

The British were accused of trying to curry favor with Tripoli for oil and arms deals.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Curry favor/favor curry is a nice extended pun.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "curry favor" when you want to highlight that someone is attempting to win favor through insincere actions.

Common error

Avoid using "curry favor" when describing genuine acts of kindness or collaboration. The phrase implies a self-serving motive, so ensure that the action is clearly aimed at gaining personal benefit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "curry favor" functions as a verb phrase, typically used transitively to describe the act of attempting to gain favor or approval from someone, often through flattery or obsequious behavior. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "curry favor" is a common verb phrase that describes the act of attempting to gain approval or advantage, often through flattery or subservience. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and notes its frequent use in contexts such as news and media, formal business settings, and general discourse. While the phrase is generally neutral, it often carries a slightly negative connotation due to the implication of self-interest. When writing, it's important to ensure that the intent is clear and that the subject's actions are indeed aimed at gaining a personal benefit, rather than simple politeness or cooperation. Related phrases include "seek favor", "ingratiate oneself", and "attempt to gain approval", which offer alternative ways to express the same concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Seek favor

This alternative shortens the phrase, focusing on the act of seeking approval.

Attempt to gain approval

This phrase highlights the attempt to get approval from someone.

Ingratiate oneself

This phrase implies making oneself agreeable to gain acceptance.

Seek to please

This alternative emphasizes the desire to make someone happy in order to get an advantage.

Flatter to gain advantage

This alternative explicitly includes flattery as the method for gaining favor.

Try to win over

This phrase suggests an attempt to persuade someone to one's side.

Court attention

This alternative suggests actively seeking attention to gain favor.

Play up to

This phrase suggests adapting one's behavior to please someone.

Suck up to

This is an informal and more negative way to express trying to gain favor.

Brown-nose

A slang term for attempting to gain favor through excessive flattery.

FAQs

How to use "curry favor" in a sentence?

You can use "curry favor" to describe someone trying to gain approval or advantage through flattery or subservient behavior. For example: "The employee tried to curry favor with his boss by always agreeing with him".

What can I say instead of "curry favor"?

You can use alternatives like "seek favor", "ingratiate oneself", or "attempt to gain approval" depending on the context.

Is "curry favour" an acceptable alternative spelling?

Yes, "curry favour" is an acceptable alternative spelling. The spelling "favour" is common in British English, while "favor" is more common in American English. Both are correct.

What's the connotation of using the phrase "curry favor"?

The phrase "curry favor" typically has a negative connotation, suggesting that someone is being insincere or manipulative in their attempts to gain approval or advantage. It implies a self-serving motive.