curry favor

Cultural  

1. “Currying favor” with someone means trying to ingratiate oneself by fawning over that person: “The ambassador curried favor with the dictator by praising his construction projects.”

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curry favor Idioms  

1. Seek gain or advancement by fawning or flattery, as in Edith was famous for currying favor with her teachers. This expression originally came from the Old French estriller fauvel, “curry the fallow horse,” a beast that in a 14th-century allegory stood for duplicity and cunning. It came into English about 1400 as curry favel —that is, curry (groom with a currycomb) the animal—and in the 1500s became the present term.

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Example Sentences

The effect is the basic code that identifies sour, sweet, salty and sometimes hot and savory flavors.

From Salon • May 25, 2022

Bywater Bakery has experimented with savory flavors, offering cakes stuffed with boudin, crawfish or spinach-and-artichoke dip.

From New York Times • Jan. 4, 2022

The creamy, savory flavors of this grain bowl is perfect for winter.

From Salon • Dec. 31, 2021

In addition to the original milk teas and fruit slushies, Peanut also serves custard desserts in both sweet and savory flavors.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 29, 2021

"Eight Treasure Duck," the old man murmured to himself, licking his lips as if he were tasting the savory flavors.

From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin