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 #2 (permalink) Thu May 10, 2007 22:58 pm Are you a brown nose? |
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Hi Torsten
I would use "brown nose" as a verb.
John got that promotion only because he brown-noses the boss like crazy.
If you want to get a raise, you'll have to do a lot of brown-nosing.
The noun is 'brown-noser'.
Most of the time, people probably wouldn't call someone a brown-noser directly. The sentence would most likely occur in the third person:
He's a real brown-noser.
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8316
Location: USA
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| #3 (permalink) Fri May 11, 2007 4:29 am Are you a brown nose? |
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Torsten...you only use this term when you are really mad at the person and like Yankee said, you usually say this behind his back because he'd likely try to hurt you for saying it.
Of course you can use this phrase directly to a very close friend in a teasing way...I avoid this term whenever I could since it's in my opinion politically incorrect. If you say this at work, someone might bring you up on charges of creating a hostile workplace environment.
As you know, when you call someone a brown-noser, you are saying that he's kissing butts so deep and has got the brown stinky stuff stuck on his nose :)...not a pleasant term... |
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 Diverhank
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 25 Apr 2007
Posts: 364
Location: California, USA
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| #4 (permalink) Fri May 11, 2007 8:54 am Are you a brown nose? |
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| Yankee wrote: |
Hi Torsten
I would use "brown nose" as a verb.
John got that promotion only because he brown-noses the boss like crazy.
If you want to get a raise, you'll have to do a lot of brown-nosing.
The noun is 'brown-noser'.
Most of the time, people probably wouldn't call someone a brown-noser directly. The sentence would most likely occur in the third person:
He's a real brown-noser. |
Hi Amy,
Many thanks for your immediate response, it's great to have the opportunity to "pick your brain"! Your comment about the third person makes perfect sense, this was the way I saw the phrase yesterday....
TOEIC short conversations: Two co-workers are discussing their career plans |
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Torsten
Learning Coach
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
Posts: 14503
Location: EU
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| #5 (permalink) Fri May 11, 2007 9:14 am Are you a brown nose? |
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| diverhank wrote: |
Torsten...you only use this term when you are really mad at the person and like Yankee said, you usually say this behind his back because he'd likely try to hurt you for saying it.
Of course you can use this phrase directly to a very close friend in a teasing way...I avoid this term whenever I could since it's in my opinion politically incorrect. If you say this at work, someone might bring you up on charges of creating a hostile workplace environment.
As you know, when you call someone a brown-noser, you are saying that he's kissing butts so deep and has got the brown stinky stuff stuck on his nose :)...not a pleasant term... |
Good morning Hank, (I take it that's your name?)
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge with me! This is vital information I can't find in any ESL text book....
TOEIC short conversations: New colleague |
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Torsten
Learning Coach
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Posts: 14503
Location: EU
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| #6 (permalink) Fri May 11, 2007 17:30 pm Are you a brown nose? |
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Hi Torsten,
Hank is my name. There was a time (when internet was getting popular) I was into scuba diving big time so "diverhank" was coined --not very original :) but the name stuck. |
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Diverhank
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 25 Apr 2007
Posts: 364
Location: California, USA
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| #7 (permalink) Fri May 11, 2007 17:59 pm Are you a brown nose? |
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Pleased to meet you, Hank. So what about your diving activities, do you still put the scuba gear on sometimes?
TOEIC short conversations: Changing meeting times |
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Torsten
Learning Coach
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Posts: 14503
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| #8 (permalink) Fri May 11, 2007 18:14 pm Are you a brown nose? |
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| Pleased to meet you, also. The last time I went was 2 years ago...I should go soon or risk forgetting how :). |
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Diverhank
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 25 Apr 2007
Posts: 364
Location: California, USA
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| #9 (permalink) Sat May 12, 2007 10:19 am Are you a brown nose? |
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Hi,
Is the noun 'brown-noser' commonly used in British, South African and/or Australian/New Zealand English?
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Englishuser
I'm here quite often ;-)
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| Expression: That...! | Expression: "phone in" |
