Standard Lemma guide

brownnose

noun · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

One who sucks up; a bootlicker or sycophant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bootlick, brown noser, adulator, apple polisher, arse-kisser, arse-licker, ass-kisser, ass-licker, bootlicker, buttkisser, buttlicker, brownnose, clawback, dickrider, doormat, flatterer, flunkey, groveler, groveller, hanger-on, kiss-ass, lackey, lickspittle, lick-platter, lickpot, minion, people pleaser, pickthank, schmoozer, simp, suck up, sycophant, throne sniffer, toadeater, toady, white knight

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To flatter someone (especially a superior) in an obsequious manner, and to support their every opinion.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: butter up, kiss up, toady, apple-polish, bootlick, bow and scrape, brownnose, dickride, duchess, fawn, fawn over, fellate, flannel, honey around, honey up, kiss someone's ass, kiss someone's ring, kowtow, lick someone's ass, lick someone's balls, overflatter, overpraise, overrate, suck up

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From brown (“a scatological reference”) + nose.

Across languages

Translations

73 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Burmese: ဖော်လံဖား (hpaulamhpa:) — one who brownnoses
  • Burmese: ဖား (hpa:) — one who brownnoses
  • Burmese: ဘောမ (bhau:ma.) — one who brownnoses
  • Chinese Cantonese: 擦鞋仔 (caat3 haai4 zai2) — one who brownnoses
  • Chinese Mandarin: 巴兒狗 /巴儿狗 (bārgǒu) — one who brownnoses
  • Chinese Mandarin: 馬屁精 /马屁精 (mǎpìjīng) — one who brownnoses
  • Czech: vlezdoprdelista — one who brownnoses
  • Czech: vlezdoprdelka — one who brownnoses
  • Dutch: kontkusser — one who brownnoses
  • Finnish: ruskeakielinen — one who brownnoses
  • French: lèche-bottes — one who brownnoses
  • French: lèche-cul — one who brownnoses
  • French: cireur de pompes — one who brownnoses
  • French: cire-pompes — one who brownnoses
  • German: Arschkriecher — one who brownnoses
  • German: Speichellecker — one who brownnoses
  • German: Schleimer — one who brownnoses
  • Greek: κωλογλείφτης (kologleíftis) — one who brownnoses
  • Greek: σφουγγοκωλάριος (sfoungokolários) — one who brownnoses
  • Hungarian: seggnyaló — one who brownnoses
  • Indonesian: penjilat — one who brownnoses
  • Italian: leccaculo — one who brownnoses
  • Italian: leccapiedi — one who brownnoses
  • Japanese: ゴマすり (gomasuri) — one who brownnoses
  • Polish: wdupowłaz — one who brownnoses
  • Portuguese: puxa-saco — one who brownnoses
  • Portuguese: lambe-botas — one who brownnoses
  • Romanian: lingău — one who brownnoses
  • Romanian: pupincurist — one who brownnoses
  • Russian: подхали́м (podxalím) — one who brownnoses
  • Russian: лизоблю́д (lizobljúd) — one who brownnoses
  • Russian: жополи́з (žopolíz) — one who brownnoses
  • Serbo-Croatian: dupelizac — one who brownnoses
  • Serbo-Croatian: uvlakač — one who brownnoses
  • Spanish: pelota — one who brownnoses
  • Spanish: chupamedias — one who brownnoses
  • Spanish: lameculos — one who brownnoses
  • Spanish: estómago agradecido — one who brownnoses
  • Spanish: adulón — one who brownnoses
  • Spanish: adulador — one who brownnoses
  • Spanish: arrastrado — one who brownnoses
  • Swedish: rövslickare — one who brownnoses
  • Azerbaijani: götə girmək — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Azerbaijani: götəgirənlik etmək — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Azerbaijani: sabunluq eləmək — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Chinese Cantonese: 擦鞋 (caat3 haai4) — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Chinese Cantonese: 托大腳 /托大脚 (tok3 daai6 goek3) — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Chinese Mandarin: 拍馬屁 /拍马屁 (pāi mǎpì) — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Chinese Mandarin: 拍馬 /拍马 (pāimǎ) — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Finnish: mielistellä — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • French: lécher le cul — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • French: flagorner — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • French: cirer les pompes — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • French: lécher les bottes — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • German: arschkriechen — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • German: jemandem in den Arsch kriechen — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • German: jemandes Speichel lecken — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • German: schleimen — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Hungarian: nyal — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Indonesian: peres — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Italian: leccare il culo — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Italian: leccare i piedi — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Italian: fare il ruffiano — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Korean: 빨다 (ppalda) — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Norwegian: smiske — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Norwegian: pisse oppetter ryggen — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Norwegian: sleike oppetter ryggen — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Polish: włazić w dupę — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Polish: lizać dupę — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Russian: лиза́ть за́дницу (lizátʹ zádnicu) — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Spanish: hacer la pelota — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Spanish: pelotear — to flatter in obsequious manner
  • Spanish: lamer el culo — to flatter in obsequious manner