Test incompl/inter-311, Question 4

English as a Second Language English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests)
#1

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #311 [color=blue]“English Slang Idioms (32)”, question 4

Jim is such a brown-…! He spends most of his time hanging around the boss and telling her how smart she is and how all of her ideas are the best he’s ever heard.

(a) study
(b) betty
© cow
(d) noser

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #311 [color=blue]“English Slang Idioms (32)”, answer 4

Jim is such a brown-noser! He spends most of his time hanging around the boss and telling her how smart she is and how all of her ideas are the best he’s ever heard.

Correct answer: (d) noser
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a brown-noser =can be a harmless person in many ways and most people realize he/she is a complete idiot and somewhat harmless. ?

#2

A brown-noser is a slang term for a sycophant: someone who continuously tries to flatter and please someone in order to gain a personal advantage.

I wouldn’t use the term in front of some people, because the origin is quite vulgar…
it comes from the idea of someone having their nose stuck so far up the backside (kissing the backside) of the person from whom advancement is sought that their excrement turns the nose brown.