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What is the meaning of "brown noser"?

(R. Dilip, Shimoga)

Politicians and film stars are usually surrounded by brown nosers. A "brown noser" is a sycophant, someone who flatters an individual for personal reasons. He is willing to do anything to get what he wants. Why is a sycophant called a "brown noser"? Such an individual stoops so low that he often rubs his nose in the dirt - and in the process gets his nose brown! Here are a few examples.

* Vikram that brown noser gave his boss a bottle of wine on his birthday.

* Prakash, you are a plain old brown noser.

* The teacher knew that the students were trying to brown nose him.

S. Upendran

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