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polish the apple

polish the apple

Try to win favor through flattery, as in It may help your standing with the boss if you polish the apple. This expression gave rise to the phrase apple polishing. The idiom alludes to the practice of schoolchildren bringing their teacher the gift of a bright, shiny apple. [c. 1920]
See also: apple, polish

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
GraŻYnagrah-ZHI-nahPolish
Damianus-Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Kalidas-Indian, Hindi
Georgianajor-JYAH-nə, jor-JAY-nəEnglish
Dunya-Russian
Masuma-Arabic
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