# brownie point

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/brownie-point
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Credit or praise for good work or a good deed, often for the express purpose of currying favor.

## Examples

- I helped my boss today to earn some brownie points.
- I bring my neighbor's mail to her door to earn brownie points.
- He washed his partner's car on Saturday morning just to earn a few brownie points for the weekend.
- The students stayed after class to help the teacher organize the library, hoping to get some brownie points before the final exam.
- You should probably offer to cook dinner tonight if you want to win some brownie points after forgetting your anniversary yesterday.
- By volunteering for the most difficult project in the department, she hoped to earn enough brownie points to secure a promotion by the end of the year.

## Origin

Unknown, but possibly from brownnose, and often associated with the points that Girl Guides or Girl Scouts at the Brownie level (ages six through eight) receive for doing specific tasks that when accumulated earn them badges (a sign of recognition) to wear on their Brownie Uniform. First use appears c. 1944 in the The Daily Item (Sunbury). (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.