Phrasal verb
fawn over
Definition
phrasal verb. to give someone a lot of attention or praise because you want to please them or get something from them.
phrasal verb. to display exaggerated affection or flattery in a servile manner; often used to describe behavior toward someone with power, wealth, or celebrity status.
Examples
“The fans fawn over the singer after every show.”
“It was embarrassing to watch the assistants fawn over the CEO during the entire lunch meeting.”
“While the critics fawn over the director's latest masterpiece, the general public seems largely indifferent to its abstract themes.”
Examples
simple
“The fans fawn over the singer after every show.”
contextual
“It was embarrassing to watch the assistants fawn over the CEO during the entire lunch meeting.”
complex
“While the critics fawn over the director's latest masterpiece, the general public seems largely indifferent to its abstract themes.”
Usage
usually carries a negative tone, suggesting the praise is excessive or insincere.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'admire' or 'praise'; 'fawn over' implies a lack of dignity or an ulterior motive on the part of the person giving the praise.
Pitfall
They fawned the celebrity.
They fawned over the celebrity.
the verb 'fawn' requires the preposition 'over' to take an object.
Phrasal verb
Particles
over
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
fawn + over + object