curry favor with

Meaning

This phrase means to try to get someone to like you or grant you a favor by using insincere flattery, compliments, or helpful behavior. It is often used in professional, political, or social contexts to describe brown-nosing or sycophancy in a slightly more formal way. The connotation is generally negative, implying the person is being manipulative or fake.

Examples

• The new employee is trying hard to curry favor with the department head.

  The new employee is trying hard to curry favor with the department head.

• He bought expensive gifts for the clients to curry favor with them.

  He bought expensive gifts for the clients to curry favor with them.

• She never tries to curry favor with her bosses; she prefers to let her work speak for itself.

  She never tries to curry favor with her bosses; she prefers to let her work speak for itself.

• Politicians often curry favor with wealthy donors during election campaigns.

  Politicians often curry favor with wealthy donors during election campaigns.

• It was obvious he was only helping the director to curry favor with her.

  It was obvious he was only helping the director to curry favor with her.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He tried to curry favor to his boss.

  ✓ He tried to curry favor with his boss.

  The correct preposition to use after 'curry favor' is 'with', not 'to'.

• ✗ She is cooking favor with the manager.

  ✓ She is currying favor with the manager.

  Although 'curry' is a food, the verb in this idiom is fixed. You cannot substitute it with other cooking verbs like 'cook' or 'bake'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• He brought donuts to the office to curry ___ with the team.

  💡 The noun representing approval or support.

  Show answer

  favor

• She is always trying to curry favor ___ the influential board members.

  💡 The preposition indicating who the favor is directed towards.

  Show answer

  with