to curry favor

To seek or gain favor by flattery, caresses, kindness, or officious civilities.--Webster.

He judged them still over-abjectly to fawn upon the heathens, and to curry favor with infidels.--Hooker.

This humor succeeded so well with the puppy, that an ass would go the same way to work to curry favor for himself.--L'Estrange.

Curry
·vt To flavor or cook with curry. II. Curry ·noun A stew of fowl, fish, or game, cooked with curry....

Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
curry
To curry favour; to obtain the favour of a person be coaxing or servility. To curry any one's hide; ...

Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
favor
făvor, ōris, m. [faveo], favor, good-will, inclination, partiality, esp. of a party (rare in Cic.; n...

A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.
favor
favor ōris, m FAV-, favor, good-will, inclination, partiality : favore populi duci: exercitūs, Ta....

An Elementary Latin Dictionary
Favor
·noun Love locks. II. Favor ·noun Partiality; bias. III. Favor ·noun Appearance; look; countenance...

Webster's Dictionary of the English Language