gain favor

USAGE SUMMARY

"gain favor" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone trying to earn someone else's approval or positive opinion. Example: The politician promised tax cuts and job opportunities in order to gain favor with voters.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But they seemed to gain favor and come back".

The New York Times

Some critics have questioned whether smaller voices will gain favor.

The New York Times - Arts

Throughout history, regulation has tended to gain favor on the heels of free enterprise run amok.

The New York Times

The planning department hopes that as the report circulates, its ideas will gain favor.

The New York Times

It is a never ending struggle to gain favor with my own worst critic…myself.

University of California, Berkeley

It will be interesting to see whether this approach will gain favor with the major investors.

Harvard University

"So I would never go out and spend money to try to gain favor with a politician.

The New York Times

Whether one or the other approach will gain favor in Rhode Island's courts remains to be seen.

Harvard University

There is no better way to gain favor with the Roman populace than to build a building like this.

Yale University

Others say that Turgay Demirel, the Turkish Basketball Federation president, made the move to gain favor with government officials.

The New York Times - Sports

China's leader, Xi Jinping, will be attending the conference as he tries to gain favor with countries in Southeast Asia.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gain favor" when you want to emphasize an active attempt to be liked or approved of, especially by someone in a position of authority or influence.

Common error

Avoid using "gain favor" in situations where genuine respect or admiration is already present. It implies a deliberate effort to manipulate perception, which can be inappropriate if the relationship is based on sincerity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gain favor" functions as a verb phrase. It describes the act of acquiring approval, acceptance, or positive regard. As Ludwig AI indicates, it’s a valid expression. Examples from Ludwig show diverse applications of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "gain favor" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of acquiring approval or acceptance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase. Examples from Ludwig show that it is "very common" in news, academic, and formal contexts. When writing, remember that it implies an active effort to be liked or approved of and isn't appropriate where genuine respect is already present. To avoid repetition, consider alternatives like "win approval" or "attract support".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Win approval

Focuses specifically on obtaining approval, rather than a broader sense of favor.

Find acceptance

Focuses on being accepted, rather than actively seeking favor.

Curry favor

More informal and implies attempting to win favor through flattery or insincere actions.

Garner support

Emphasizes the accumulation of support from multiple sources.

Attract support

Highlights gaining backing or endorsement, often in a more public or political context.

Cultivate goodwill

Implies actively nurturing a positive relationship to gain favor over time.

Secure endorsement

Implies a more formal or official type of support is being obtained.

Ingratiate oneself

Refers to deliberately trying to become popular or liked by someone.

Seek recognition

Highlights the attempt to be recognized or acknowledged for one's efforts.

Become popular

Suggests wider acceptance by a group rather than targeted favor.

FAQs

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

You can use "gain favor" to describe actions taken to win approval or support. For example: "The politician promised tax cuts to "gain favor" with voters."

What does it mean to "gain favor" with someone?

To "gain favor" with someone means to become more liked or approved of by that person, often through specific actions or behaviors.

What are some alternative ways to say "gain favor"?

You can use alternatives like "win approval", "attract support", or "secure endorsement" depending on the specific context.

Is "gain favor" formal or informal?

"Gain favor" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase, suitable for use in both professional and informal contexts.