Question

apple-polish verb It began innocently enough: a shiny apple for the teacher, a young student's gift (OK, bribe) given in the hope that classroom high jinks would be forgotten or forgiven. The college students of the 1920s tried a more sophisticated version of the trick, polishing professorial egos with compliments in the hopes of getting a better grade. Because of its similarity to the "apple for the teacher" practice, college students dubbed that grade-enhancement strategy apple-polishing. But the idea quickly lost its luster and by 1935 the verb apple-polish had picked up negative connotations. Nowadays, the apple-polisher (academic or otherwise) is viewed in the same much-maligned class as the toady, sycophant, and bootlicker. 1 : to attempt to ingratiate oneself : toady2 : to curry favor with (as by flattery)

Accepted Answer

March 9, 2015 AP-ul-pah-lish "There still might be time to apple-polish the boss." - Garry Smits, Florida Times-Union, October 30, 2008   "One of the reasons unions (and step increases) exist is to eliminate cronyism or favoritism. No teacher has to apple-polish the principal to get a raise." - John Jones, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, June 11, 2011

Word	apple-polish
Date	March 9, 2015
Type	verb
Syllables	AP-ul-pah-lish
Etymology	It began innocently enough: a shiny apple for the teacher, a young student's gift (OK, bribe) given in the hope that classroom high jinks would be forgotten or forgiven. The college students of the 1920s tried a more sophisticated version of the trick, polishing professorial egos with compliments in the hopes of getting a better grade. Because of its similarity to the "apple for the teacher" practice, college students dubbed that grade-enhancement strategy apple-polishing. But the idea quickly lost its luster and by 1935 the verb apple-polish had picked up negative connotations. Nowadays, the apple-polisher (academic or otherwise) is viewed in the same much-maligned class as the toady, sycophant, and bootlicker.
Examples	"There still might be time to apple-polish the boss." - Garry Smits, Florida Times-Union, October 30, 2008 "One of the reasons unions (and step increases) exist is to eliminate cronyism or favoritism. No teacher has to apple-polish the principal to get a raise." - John Jones, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, June 11, 2011
Definition	1 : to attempt to ingratiate oneself : toady 2 : to curry favor with (as by flattery)

Apple Polish Verb College Students March Ap Ul Pah Lish Began Innocently