Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
verbal phrase, early 16c., altered by folk etymology from curry favel (c.1400) from Old French correier fauvel "to be false, hypocritical," literally "to curry the chestnut horse," which in medieval French allegories was a symbol of cunning and deceit. For the verb, see curry (v.). Old French fauvel (later fauveau) "fallow, dun," though the exact color intended in the early uses is vague, is a diminutive of fauve fawn-colored horse, dark-colored thing, dull," for which see Fauvist. The secondary sense here is entangled with similar-sounding Old French favele "lying, deception," from Latin fabella, diminutive of fabula (see fable (n.)). In Middle English, favel was a common name for a horse.
Wiktionary
vb. (context idiomatic English) To seek to gain favor by flattery or attention.
WordNet
v. seek favor by fawning or flattery; "This employee is currying favor with his superordinates" [syn: curry favour, court favor, court favour]
Usage examples of "curry favor".
And why use paints for our lips and cheeks as some still do because another wanted to be a woman and not a man, pretended to be one, and courtiers imitated him-her to curry favor.
Santley was an apple-polisher, and once he realized, as he was sure to, that a new hand might be in control he would seek to curry favor.
Since the spring terrace play is the high point of the year for all Cathayans, various magnates curry favor with heaven—.
Since the spring terrace play is the high point of the year for all Cathayans, various magnates curry favor with heaven -- and the people -- by financing the festivities, rather the way they do nowadays in certain Greek cities.
Since the spring terrace play is the high point of the year for all Cathayans, various magnates curry favor with heaven-and the people-by financing the festivities, rather the way they do nowadays in certain Greek cities.
He knew they invited him to curry favor, but stillit was thrilling.
Her donors were special interest types, who wanted to curry favor with the president.
As long as you curry favor with the swine, you can do anything else—.
Those men of pride will often identify with the meaner half of their line, out of spite perhaps, or the wish not to seem to curry favor by seeking to ingratiate themselves on the better side.
Across the square from the chandlery was an inn, with a sign bearing a golden bear, clearly an attempt to curry favor with Lord Jecks.
Pretty soon some idiot back there will decide he can curry favor by bringing Rand my head.
JFK: I cant go into details, but he threw over the woman he was engaged to to curry favor with me and my family.
Jiana was convinced that Radience's pathetic attempts to curry favor had sickened even her.
Some of Rhys's men were likely to decide to curry favor from their lord by following and murdering the man who'd mocked him in his very chamber of justice.
Now she looked forward to the worst ordeal of all, for some of the members of the Judiciary Committee were allies of Ed Kealty, and some would take it upon themselves to hammer the witness hard either to curry favor with the cameras or to demonstrate their impartiality and professionalism as lawyers.