ingratiating oneself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ingratiating oneself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the act of trying to gain favor or approval from someone, often through flattery or other pleasing behaviors. Example: "He spent the entire evening ingratiating himself with the influential guests at the party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

From navigating job interviews to ingratiating oneself with clientele, there are countless reasons people of color code-switch in white spaces.

The Guardian - Film

He's not the only one who finds the process of ingratiating oneself to potentially useful strangers slimy and distasteful.

Science Magazine

According to the London-based Independent newhicher, which acquired documents with a freedom-of-information request, "The Handbook for Ministers" includes helpful recommendations on ingratiating oneself to the staff with a round of Danish pastries and getting down to the gym once in a while.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In this world one joins a fascist movement to alleviate boredom, for a lark, or to ingratiate oneself with a potential lover.

The Guardian - Books

Regardless of whether the goal is to ingratiate oneself to a client or to take aerial photographs for a listing, it seems that having trouble finding a particular house during a flyover is common.

The New York Times

Evidence from the Indian Administrative Service suggests that the need to ingratiate oneself to obtain desired transfers means that public sector employees may be unwilling to address important but politically sensitive issues (Banik 2001).

Health Policy and Planning

"You're ingratiating!" I countered.

The New Yorker

SERVICE Friendly and ingratiating.

The New York Times

They're ingratiating.

The New York Times

SERVICE -- Warm and ingratiating.

The New York Times - Food

SERVICE -- Prompt, ingratiating, professional.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ingratiating oneself" when the situation involves actively trying to gain favor, often through flattery or pleasing behavior.

Common error

While "ingratiating oneself" is grammatically correct, overuse can make writing sound stilted. Vary your language by using synonyms like "currying favor" or "seeking approval" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ingratiating oneself" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as a noun. It describes the act of trying to gain favor or acceptance from someone, as shown in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ingratiating oneself" is a grammatically correct gerund phrase that describes the act of attempting to gain favor or approval from someone. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid and usable in written English. While generally neutral in tone, it can sometimes carry negative connotations. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts. For alternative phrasing, consider "currying favor" or "seeking approval". Be mindful of overuse, as it can make your writing sound unnatural.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ingratiating yourself

Using the reflexive pronoun "yourself" instead of "oneself" to specify the person ingratiating.

gaining someone's favor

Emphasizes the result of the action – acquiring favor from another person.

currying favor

Implies actively seeking to gain favor, often with an underlying motive.

seeking approval

Focuses on the desire for acceptance rather than manipulation.

fawning over

Suggests excessive flattery and attention.

trying to please

A more general term for attempting to make someone happy.

kissing up to

Similar to "sucking up", but slightly less vulgar.

sucking up

A more informal and often negative way of saying trying to gain favor.

brown-nosing

A highly informal and derogatory term for ingratiation.

bootlicking

Another derogatory term indicating servile flattery.

FAQs

What does "ingratiating oneself" mean?

The phrase "ingratiating oneself" refers to the act of trying to gain someone's favor or approval, often by using flattery or other pleasing behaviors.

Is "ingratiating oneself" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. More informal alternatives include "sucking up" or "kissing up to".

What are some situations where someone might try "ingratiating oneself"?

People might try "ingratiating oneself" in job interviews, when meeting important clients, or when seeking a promotion. The goal is to create a positive impression.

What can I say instead of "ingratiating oneself" if I want to avoid negative connotations?

If you want a more neutral term, consider using phrases like "seeking approval" or "trying to please". These options focus on positive intent rather than manipulation.