- ˈfawn on sb
- phrasal verb
to be extremely nice to someone because you want them to like you or to give you something
Dictionary for writing and speaking English. 2014.
ˈfawn on sb
Look at other dictionaries:
fawn — vb Fawn, toady, truckle, cringe, cower are comparable when they mean to act or behave with abjectness in the presence of a superior. Fawn implies a courting of favor by such acts of a sycophant as servile flattery and exaggerated deference {they… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
Fawn — Fawn, n. [OF. faon the young one of any beast, a fawn, F. faon a fawn, for fedon, fr. L. fetus. See {Fetus}.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A young deer; a buck or doe of the first year. See {Buck}. [1913 Webster] 2. The young of an animal; a whelp. [Obs.] [1913 … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Fawn — Fawn, a. Of the color of a fawn; fawn colored. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
fawn — ‘young deer’ [14] and fawn ‘grovel’ [13] are two distinct words. The latter did not always have the negative associations of ‘servility’ which it usually carries today. Originally it simply referred to dogs showing they were happy – by wagging… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
fawn — ‘young deer’ [14] and fawn ‘grovel’ [13] are two distinct words. The latter did not always have the negative associations of ‘servility’ which it usually carries today. Originally it simply referred to dogs showing they were happy – by wagging… … Word origins
fawn on — ˈfawn over ˈfawn on [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they fawn over he/she/it fawns over present participle fawning over past tens … Useful english dictionary
Fawn — Fawn, v. i. [Cf. F. faonner.] To bring forth a fawn. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Fawn — Fawn, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Fawned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fawning}.] [OE. fawnen, fainen, fagnien, to rejoice, welcome, flatter, AS. f[ae]gnian to rejoice; akin to Icel. fagna to rejoice, welcome. See {Fain}.] To court favor by low cringing, frisking … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
fawn — fawn·ing·ly; fawn; fawn·ing·ness; … English syllables
Fawn — Fawn, n. A servile cringe or bow; mean flattery; sycophancy. Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
fawn — [n] baby deer baby buck, baby doe, yearling; concepts 394,400 fawn [v] ingratiate oneself to; serve abase, apple polish*, be at beck and call*, be obsequious, be servile, blandish, bow, brownnose*, buddy up*, butter up*, cajole, cater to, cave in … New thesaurus
