apple-polisher
A flatterer. (Apples are a typical gift for teachers.) That kid is always quick to help the teacher with any little thing—what an apple polisher! Your dad was the furthest thing from an apple-polisher when he was in school. He had detention all the time! Quit being such an apple-polisher, it's not going to get you a better grade or anything.
nail polish on a hangnail
Some superficial or cosmetic change to something so that it seems more attractive, appealing, or successful than it really is. The only thing the new manager has come up with to save the restaurant has been to make a few repairs and slap a fresh coat on the restaurant, but putting a bit of nail polish on a hangnail doesn't fix the hangnail. The new bells and whistles of their latest operating system is just nail polish on a hangnail, if you ask me. It's still just as buggy and unintuitive as the last one they released.
polish (one's) act
To improve a routine (an "act") that one will deliver for an audience. Commonly used in reference to stand-up comedy. Wow, he's really polished his act since this last time we saw him. He's actually funny now! What do you think Jerry Seinfeld did to polish his act in the early days?
polish a turd
slang To make something unpleasant seem more appealing than it really is—which is often a futile effort. "Turd" is a slang term for a piece of feces. Look, man, your term paper was bad before, and all of your edits are just making it worse—polishing a turd won't make it better.
polish off
To consume, dispose of, or finish all of something very quickly or easily. A noun or pronoun can be used between "polish" and "off." I was still hungry after dinner, so I polished off the leftover Chinese food in the fridge. I'll come to the party a little later. I just need to polish off this essay first.
Polish parliament
A chaotic, unproductive gathering of government officials. In Poland's parliament, all members used to have veto power, which would result in frequent disruptions and little action. A: "Were they able to get anything done in the assembly?" B: "No, it was a real Polish parliament with few calm moments of debate."
polish the apple
To attempt to curry favor through insincere or excessive flattery or praise. An allusion to the clichéd image of a student presenting their teacher with a gift of a shiny red apple to instill a good impression. Brian is always polishing the apple with the boss, and for what—some vague, vain hope of a promotion or raise?
polish up
1. Literally, to smoothen or shine something through the use of forceful rubbing. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "polish" and "up." I'll need to polish up my shoes before John and Sarah's wedding tomorrow. Our rings are a bit tarnished—would you mind polishing them up for us?
2. To improve or refresh one's knowledge about or ability to do something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "polish" and "up." I've been polishing my Japanese up before I go to Tokyo next month. I need to polish up on factorials before attempting to teach them on Monday.
3. To improve or refine the appearance something. I've been hearing rumors that there are going to be company-wide layoffs soon. Better start polishing up my résumé. We need to polish up this old house before any prospective buyers get here.
spit and polish
Maintenance of and close attention to the cleanliness and orderliness of something. Sure, it needs some spit and polish, but it's still a reliable truck! Our manager demands spit and polish whenever we clean up the kitchen at the end of the night.
you can't polish a turd
proverb You can't make something unpleasant seem more appealing than it really is—attempting to do so is often a futile effort. "Turd" is a slang term for a piece of feces. Look, man, your term paper was bad before, and all of your edits are just making it worse—you can't polish a turd, you know.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
apple-polisher
Fig. a flatterer. Doesn't that wimpy apple-polisher know how stupid he looks? Everybody at my office seems to be an apple-polisher but me.
polish something off
to eat, consume, exhaust, or complete all of something. Who polished the cake off? Who polished off the cake?
polish something up
to rub something until it shines. Polish the silver up and make it look nice and shiny. If you will polish up the silver, I will put it away.
spit and polish
orderliness; ceremonial precision and orderliness. I like spit and polish. It comes from being in the military. There is no such thing as too much spit and polish.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
polish off
Finish or dispose of, especially quickly and easily. For example, We polished off the pie in no time, or If everyone helps, we can polish off this job today. This usage, dating from the early 1800s, came from boxing, where it originally meant "to defeat an opponent quickly and easily." By the 1830s it was used more generally.
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]
spit and polish
Close attention to appearance and order, as in With a little spit and polish this house will sell very quickly. This expression originated in the military, presumably alluding to literally shining up something with the aid of a little saliva. There it also came to mean "too much attention to appearance, and not enough to more important concerns," as in The commander is so concerned with spit and polish that he overlooks the crew's morale. [Late 1800s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
spit and polish
Spit and polish is the process of making a place or person very clean. There is a bit of spit and polish involved. Boots have to be clean and shining.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
spit and polish
extreme neatness or smartness.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
spit and ˈpolish
(informal) cleaning and polishing: This table will look as good as new with a bit of spit and polish.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
polish off
v.1. To make something clean or shiny: The student polished off the apple and handed it to the teacher. I polished the vase off with a cloth and set it on the table.
2. To eliminate something, such as rust or a stain by rubbing: Please polish that spot off the doorknob. After much scrubbing, I finally polished off the stain.
3. Slang To finish or consume something enthusiastically: I polished off that last piece of cake. After we polish this pizza off, let's get dessert.
polish up
v.1. To make something smooth and shiny by rubbing or chemical action: The jeweler polished up the stones and made them into a necklace. She cleaned the mud off her shoes and polished them up.
2. To improve one's knowledge of something, especially through study and practice: I've been polishing up on my Spanish because I'm going to Mexico. My dancing skills weren't that good, so I took a class to polish them up.
3. To improve or refine something: The mayor tried to polish up his image after the scandal. The manuscript is good, but you need to polish it up if you want it to be published.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
apple-polisher
n. a flatterer. Everybody at the office seems to be an apple-polisher but me.
shoe polish
n. liquor; whiskey; inferior whiskey. The old lush would be delighted to get some of your shoe polish.
spit and polish
n. orderliness; ceremonial precision and orderliness. (Alludes to carefully polishing shoes to a high level of shine.) I like spit and polish. It comes from being in the military.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
spit and polish
Great care for a spotless and smart appearance. The term originated in the armed services, where spit might literally be used for a hasty cleaning for an unexpected inspection. The term also came to mean more attention to appearances than to actual working order or efficiency, so that by World War I, “Spit and polish! We’re winning the war,” was a sarcastic expression applied by those in the front lines to the concerns of career officers sitting behind desks in the war office.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
nail polish on a hangnail
Ugly or useless despite an attractive appearance. This phrase, which is most often heard in “You can put nail polish on a hangnail, but it's still a hangnail,” can be used in all sorts of situations . . . and for all sorts of people.
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price