brownie point: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “brownie point” mean?
An imaginary unit of credit or approval earned for doing something considered good or helpful, often in the context of seeking favour from an authority figure.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An imaginary unit of credit or approval earned for doing something considered good or helpful, often in the context of seeking favour from an authority figure.
Informal, often humorous credit for performing a task or action intended to please someone, especially a superior, parent, or partner. It implies the action is done partly or wholly to gain approval rather than from pure altruism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar, though some sources suggest slightly higher frequency in American English. The concept is equally understood in both varieties.
Connotations
The mildly cynical or humorous undertone is consistent. In both varieties, it's informal and not used in serious, formal contexts.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American media, but well-established in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “brownie point” in a Sentence
to score brownie points with someoneto earn brownie points for doing somethingto gain a few brownie pointsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brownie point” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's brownie-pointing with the head of department by bringing in biscuits.
American English
- Stop brownie-pointing the manager by always agreeing with her.
adjective
British English
- That was a pure brownie-points gesture, cleaning the boss's car.
American English
- His offer to stay late was clearly a brownie-point move.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally among colleagues, e.g., 'He's working late just to score brownie points with the boss.'
Academic
Very rare; considered too informal for academic writing.
Everyday
Common in social and family contexts, e.g., 'I did the washing up to earn some brownie points with my wife.'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brownie point”
- Using it in formal writing. Incorrect preposition: 'brownie points to someone' (should be 'with someone'). Treating it as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'He got a lot of brownie point').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The most accepted etymology relates to the 'Brownies', the junior branch of the Girl Guides/Girl Scouts, where children earn badges or points for good deeds. A persistent but false folk etymology links it to 'brown-nosing'.
It is context-dependent. It can be neutral ('I earned some brownie points'), humorous, or mildly negative/cynical when implying insincerity ('He's just doing it for the brownie points').
Yes, it's very common in everyday speech to describe doing favours for a partner, e.g., 'I cooked dinner to get brownie points with my girlfriend.'
No. It is exclusively informal and metaphorical. There is no real point system or ledger.
An imaginary unit of credit or approval earned for doing something considered good or helpful, often in the context of seeking favour from an authority figure.
Brownie point: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbraʊni ˌpɔɪnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbraʊni ˌpɔɪnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Brownie points are a non-existent currency.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a literal brownie (the elf) handing out gold stars or points to children for good deeds. You're trying to collect those stars from someone.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL FAVOUR IS A CURRENCY / APPROVAL IS A SCORABLE GAME.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would using 'brownie points' be LEAST appropriate?