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🇩🇪German Source WordCode: DE

schleimen

Pronunciation / Transliteration: ˈʃlaɪ̯mən

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Curry-favor/ˈkɜːr.iˌfeɪ.vɚ/
verbCEFR C2 (Proficient)Top #14500 frequency
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🇩🇪 Example Sentence in German:

"Er versucht immer beim Chef zu schleimen."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

1 sense
As verb
  1. 1

    To seek to gain favor by flattery or attention; to ingratiate oneself insincerely.

    "He tried to curry-favor with the boss by constantly praising her mediocre ideas."
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Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Originating in the late 14th century, this term is a corruption of Middle English 'curren favel', translating the Old French phrase 'étrenner fauve'. 'Favel' or 'faulve' referred to a chestnut horse that was traditionally a symbol of deceit and hypocrisy, and 'curren' meant to groom or rub. Thus, the original literal meaning of 'curry favel' was to groom the deceptive horse, which over time evolved into the figurative practice of seeking favor through flattery.

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