ENGLISH
REFERENCE

apple polisher

idiom
Meaning

A sycophant; a toady.


Origin

disputed origin

In reference to the idea of an obsequious child bringing apples to the class teacher.

Examples
SIMPLE

Nobody likes the apple polisher in our office.

CONTEXTUAL

He is such an apple polisher that he brings the boss coffee every single morning.

COMPLEX

The manager grew tired of the constant flattery from the office apple polisher, who hoped to secure a promotion through insincere praise.

Anchors to
Related idioms5entries
  1. 01

    apple of someone's eye

    The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.

  2. 02

    bad apple

    A person who is not wholesome, honest, or trustworthy, especially one who has an adverse influence on others.

  3. 03

    rotten apple

    A bad person, especially one who has a corrupting influence on others.

  4. 04

    the apple does not fall far from the tree

    A child grows up to be similar to its parents, both in behavior and in physical characteristics.

  5. 05

    wise apple

    A smart aleck.

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