apple-polish: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Low frequency, idiomatic)Informal, slightly dated, mildly pejorative
Quick answer
What does “apple-polish” mean?
To behave in a flattering, servile manner towards someone in authority in order to gain favour or advantage.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To behave in a flattering, servile manner towards someone in authority in order to gain favour or advantage.
To engage in excessive or obvious flattery and subservience, often through small gifts or constant praise, directed at a superior such as a teacher, boss, or other authority figure. The act is viewed as insincere and self-serving.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties but is more commonly used in American English. British English might more frequently use 'suck up to' or 'crawl to' in equivalent informal contexts.
Connotations
In both, it carries a schoolyard connotation, often evoking the image of a teacher's pet. It is a somewhat old-fashioned term, giving it a quaint or humorous edge alongside its criticism.
Frequency
Low frequency in contemporary use in both. Slightly higher recognisability and historical usage in AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “apple-polish” in a Sentence
[SOMEONE] apple-polishes [SOMEONE/AUTHORITY][SOMEONE] is apple-polishingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “apple-polish” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's always in the boss's office, trying to apple-polish.
- She accused him of apple-polishing the new headmaster to get his son a place.
American English
- Stop apple-polishing the professor; it's embarrassing.
- He apple-polished his way into a management position.
adjective
British English
- His apple-polishing tactics were transparent to everyone else in the office.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to criticise colleagues perceived as flattering managers for promotion. 'He got the promotion just by apple-polishing the director.'
Academic
Used historically or in discussing student-teacher dynamics. Less common in formal academic writing.
Everyday
Used in informal speech to describe obvious flattery, especially in hierarchical settings like school or work.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “apple-polish”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “apple-polish”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “apple-polish”
- Using it as a noun for the person without '-er' (incorrect: 'He is an apple-polish'; correct: 'He is an apple-polisher').
- Confusing it with 'apple-polish' as a product for cleaning apples.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered somewhat old-fashioned. More contemporary informal equivalents like 'suck up to' or 'brown-nose' are more frequently used.
Yes, but you need to add '-er'. The person who does it is an 'apple-polisher'. The activity can be called 'apple-polishing' (gerund/noun).
It originates from the early 20th-century American school practice of students bringing a shiny apple to their teacher as a gift to gain favour.
It is mildly insulting and pejorative, implying they are insincere and servile. It is informal and not suitable for formal accusations.
To behave in a flattering, servile manner towards someone in authority in order to gain favour or advantage.
Apple-polish is usually informal, slightly dated, mildly pejorative in register.
Apple-polish: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæp(ə)l ˌpɒlɪʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæpəl ˌpɑːlɪʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “teacher's pet (noun, result of apple-polishing)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a student nervously polishing a red apple until it shines before nervously handing it to the strict teacher. The shiny apple is the tool for polishing the teacher's opinion.
Conceptual Metaphor
FLATTERY IS A GROOMING RITUAL (polishing an object to make it more pleasing). SOCIAL ADVANCEMENT IS A GIFT (offering the apple).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary implication of someone who 'apple-polishes'?