earn favor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'earn favor' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone gaining favor or approval through actions or deeds. For example: "By working hard and volunteering in the community, she earned the favor of her employers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Participants will compete to earn favor with audience members and judges, including John Pham, editor-in-chief of Cell, and the winner will earn a cash prize.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

General Motors said on Wednesday that it would not close any of its four Opel plants in Germany, a decision that appeared to be intended to earn favor with the officials in Berlin who control billions of euros in aid for the unit's reorganization.

The New York Times

General Motors said Wednesday that it would not close any of its four Opel plants in Germany, a decision that appeared intended to earn favor with the officials in Berlin who control the release of billions of euros in aid for restructuring.

The New York Times

Meat is a scarce and valuable commodity, and successful hunters will trade bits of their catch to earn favor with higher-ranked members of the troop, for grooming and even for sex it really is the world's oldest profession.

Forbes

If you are looking to earn favor with consumers, from an ethical standpoint, your best bet is to focus on key business basics such as paying and treating employees well, creating jobs, donating to a charity, or partnering with local charities.

Forbes

But giving good gossip, being alert to the behavior of others in the group, and sharing what you'd seen for the benefit of all, would earn favor and status," Boyd says.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

You earn "favors" (the currency of the game) by producing movies and you spend energy in the nightlife area, which includes bars, hotels, and the "Underbelly".

TechCrunch

The Clintons said the pledge was intended to defuse accusations that foreign governments might use such donations to earn favors.

HuffPost

The investigation, dubbed Case 1000 and Case 2000, accuses the 68-year-old Israeli leader of using his position as Prime Minister to earn favors worth 1 million shekels ($282,790).

Vice

In his 16-year stewardship of Ireland's largest congregation, Cardinal Connell had upheld church doctrine in a way that earned favor with the Vatican, but he alienated many Catholics here.

The New York Times

Why settle for a chain hotel when you can stay at some of the coolest spots around town? Designer boutique hotels are a new and rising trend, earning favor from visitors as well as locals as intimate meeting spots.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "earn favor", ensure the context clearly indicates the actions or qualities that led to gaining the favor. Be specific about what was done to achieve this result.

Common error

Avoid using "earn favor" when the approval is simply a result of obligation or pre-existing relationship. The phrase implies a deliberate effort to gain approval through specific actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earn favor" functions as a verb phrase where "earn" is the verb indicating the action of acquiring something, and "favor" is the noun representing approval or goodwill. It describes the process of gaining acceptance or positive regard through effort, as exemplified by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "earn favor" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig. It's used to describe the action of gaining approval or goodwill through specific efforts or actions. While not extremely frequent, it appears across various reputable sources, including News & Media, Academia, and Wiki sites. Alternative phrases like "gain approval" or "curry favor" can be used depending on the specific nuance intended. When using "earn favor", ensure the context makes clear the actions that lead to such favor. While, as Ludwig AI notes, the expression is considered correct and usable, ensure its usage is relevant to the specific context, avoiding scenarios where approval stems from obligation rather than conscious effort.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gain approval

Replaces "earn" with "gain" emphasizing the act of obtaining approval.

win approval

Similar to "gain approval" but suggests a more competitive or challenging process.

curry favor

Implies actively seeking to gain favor, often through flattery.

get in someone's good graces

An idiomatic expression meaning to become liked or approved of by someone.

ingratiate oneself

Focuses on the act of making oneself agreeable to others.

find acceptance

Emphasizes the achievement of being accepted by others.

gain the acceptance

Similar to find acceptance, but sounds more intentional

secure endorsement

Suggests obtaining formal support or approval.

garner respect

Focuses on earning respect as a means of gaining favor.

build trust

Suggests establishing confidence to gain a certain favour

FAQs

How can I use "earn favor" in a sentence?

You can use "earn favor" to describe how someone's actions lead to gaining approval or support, for example: "She volunteered her time to "earn favor" with the community."

What is a synonym for "earn favor"?

A synonym for "earn favor" is "gain approval". Both phrases imply the act of obtaining approval or support through effort or actions.

Is it always positive to "earn favor"?

Earning favor isn't inherently positive or negative; it depends on the context and the methods used. While it can be achieved through genuine merit, it can also involve manipulative tactics. Context is very important.

Which is correct, "earn favor" or "gain favor"?

Both "earn favor" and "gain favor" are correct and commonly used. The choice between them often comes down to stylistic preference, as they carry similar meanings.