Meanings
plural apple polishers
- idiomaticinformalA sycophant; a toady.
Synonyms: adulator, arse-kisser, arse-licker, ass-kisser, ass-licker, bootlick, bootlicker, buttkisser
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA sycophant; a toady.
More synonyms by meaning
nounsomeone who humbles themself as a sign of respect; who behaves as if they had no self-respect
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
In reference to the idea of an obsequious child bringing apples to the class teacher.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
apple polisher. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apple%20polisher
“apple polisher.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apple%20polisher. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “apple polisher,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apple%20polisher.
Source: apple polisher on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.