fawning over

USAGE SUMMARY

'fawning over' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You would use it to describe an excessively complimentary or flattering behavior towards someone or something. For example, "The salesperson was fawning over the customer, hoping for a large sale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He gets used to people fawning over him.

The Economist

The staff is fawning over a baby-boomer rock icon.

The New Yorker

It was just another journalist fawning over Obama.

The New York Times

How did he handle attention and people fawning over him?

The Guardian

Ex-players fawning over Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr Emanuel reportedly accused Mr Strömmen and Norway of "fawning" over the freshly elected Mr Obama.

Independent

Washingtonians have been fawning over the National Zoo's pandas since Nixon went to China.

The New Yorker

The Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio accused Penn of fawning over his interviewee.

The Guardian

If it starts fawning over these lugs, we should all gag in unison.

The New York Times - Sports

Other out-takes, shown in court, showed Bashir apparently fawning over the singer.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The wooing of and near-fawning over the crown prince by the Conservative government in March looks mistaken.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fawning over" to describe situations where the flattery is excessive and potentially insincere. It often implies a motive behind the praise.

Common error

Avoid using "fawning over" in situations where genuine appreciation is intended. The phrase carries a negative connotation of insincerity or ulterior motives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fawning over" functions as a phrasal verb, describing an action of showing excessive flattery and attention. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it suggests insincerity or ulterior motives. For example, "The staff is fawning over a baby-boomer rock icon."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Wiki

3%

HuffPost

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fawning over" is a phrasal verb used to describe excessive flattery and attention, often with negative connotations of insincerity or ulterior motives. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. It is most frequently found in News & Media, where it serves to express disapproval. When writing, use it cautiously, being mindful of the negative implication it carries. Related phrases include "lavishing praise on" and "gushing over", each with slightly different shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gushing over

Conveys unrestrained enthusiasm and praise.

showing excessive admiration for

Directly expresses the act of showing a great deal of admiration.

lavishing praise on

Focuses on the act of giving excessive praise.

flattering excessively

Highlights the act of giving an over amount of flattery.

being overly complimentary to

Highlights the act of giving excessive compliments.

singing the praises of

Emphasizes the act of publicly and enthusiastically praising someone or something.

idolizing

Implies treating someone as an idol, with extreme admiration.

being sycophantic towards

Indicates behaving in a servile way to gain favor.

buttering up

Suggests flattering someone to get something from them.

kowtowing to

Implies subservient behavior and excessive respect.

FAQs

How to use "fawning over" in a sentence?

You can use "fawning over" to describe someone giving excessive compliments or showing extreme admiration, often with an ulterior motive. For example, "The staff is "fawning over" a baby-boomer rock icon".

What can I say instead of "fawning over"?

You can use alternatives like "lavishing praise on", "idolizing", or "gushing over" depending on the context.

What does it mean to "fawn over" someone?

To "fawn over" someone means to show excessive flattery and attention, often in a way that seems insincere or servile. It implies an attempt to gain favor or advantage through flattery.

Is "fawning over" negative?

Yes, "fawning over" generally has a negative connotation. It suggests that the person giving the attention is not being genuine and has ulterior motives.