What Does “Curry Favor” Mean? Shawshank Redemption

Learn English with The Shawshank Redemption as we explore what it means to curry favor. Have you ever tried to get on someone’s good side, perhaps to stay out of trouble or win a little reward? In this scene, Andy Dufresne finds himself in a tense situation. Surrounded by tough guards, he has to think fast – and his charm, wit, and strategic thinking help him do just that.

What Andy does is a clever example of currying favor – a phrase that sounds a bit strange but has a fascinating history and is still used today. Let’s unpack this powerful scene and dig into the real vocabulary from it.

1) “Came to Pass”

📖 An old-fashioned way to say “happened” or “occurred” – often used in storytelling or formal speech. Common in older literature and religious texts. Today, most people just say “happened.”

💬 “And so it came to pass that the kingdom fell into ruin.”

💬 “It came to pass that after months of waiting, she finally got the job.”

2) “Convict Crew”

📖 A group of prisoners working together on a labor project. In The Shawshank Redemption, the convict crew is assigned to tar the prison roof. Historically, convict crews were used for hard labor like building roads or breaking rocks.

💬 “The convict crew was ordered to clean the prison yard.”

💬 “He was put on the convict crew responsible for construction work.”

3) “Tarred”

📖 To tar something means to cover it with tar – a thick, black, sticky substance used to waterproof surfaces. Tarring was a common method used to protect roofs, roads, and wooden ships from water damage.

💬 “They tarred the road to make it smooth and durable.”

💬 “The workers tarred the factory roof before the storm hit.”

4) “Plate-Factory Roof”

📖 The roof of a factory that makes license plates for cars. In The Shawshank Redemption, prisoners work on this roof as part of their punishment.

💡 License plates in many countries are actually made in prisons – this is a real-world detail, not just a movie invention.

5) “Wound Up”

📖 Means “ended up” or “found oneself in a situation” – often when the result was unexpected.

💬 “After traveling for hours, we wound up at a tiny cafe in the middle of nowhere.”

💬 “He started his career as a waiter but wound up owning a restaurant.”

6) “Bohemia-Style Beer”

📖 A European-style beer inspired by Bohemia, a region in the Czech Republic known for strong, high-quality beers. In The Shawshank Redemption, the prisoners are given cold beers as a rare treat.

💬 “They enjoyed a glass of Bohemia-style beer after a long day of work.”

💬 “Bohemia is famous for its traditional beer brewing methods.”

7) “Courtesy of”

📖 Means “provided by” or “thanks to.” Often used in formal speech or announcements – and sometimes humorously when receiving something unexpectedly.

💬 “The free drinks were courtesy of the hotel.”

💬 “We have electricity tonight, courtesy of our hardworking repair crew.”

8) “Screw” (Slang)

📖 In prison slang, a “screw” is a prison guard. It is informal and sometimes negative, often used for a guard who is strict or disliked by prisoners. This word has been used in British and American prisons for many years.

💬 “The new screw doesn’t let anyone break the rules.”

💬 “He used to be a screw before he retired.”

9) “Walked a Turn”

📖 To “walk a turn” means to patrol a prison during a shift. This is old-fashioned prison slang for a guard doing his rounds.

💬 “The warden walked a turn before heading home for the night.”

💬 “The hardest screw walked a turn, making sure everyone was locked up tight.”

10) “Colossal Prick” (Rude/Slang)

📖 A very mean, arrogant, or unpleasant person. “Colossal” means extremely large, so this phrase means someone is not just unpleasant but remarkably so.

💬 “That boss is a colossal prick. He treats everyone like dirt.”

💬 “Even when he did something nice, he still acted like a colossal prick.”

⚠️ This is an insult and not appropriate in formal situations.

11) Magnanimous

📖 Generous, noble, or forgiving – especially toward someone who doesn’t necessarily deserve it. Often used when a person shows kindness in a difficult or unequal situation.

💬 “Even after losing, she was magnanimous and congratulated the winner.”

💬 “The judge was magnanimous, reducing his sentence because he showed remorse.”

12) “Lord of All Creation”

📖 A figurative way of saying someone feels powerful, important, or on top of the world. Used to describe a moment of pride, confidence, or freedom.

💬 “After winning the championship, he felt like the lord of all creation.”

💬 “Sitting on that rooftop with a beer, we felt like the lords of all creation.”

13) Hunker

📖 To sit low, crouch, or take cover. Often used when someone positions themselves defensively or stays out of sight.

💬 “The soldiers hunkered down behind the wall during the attack.”

💬 “Andy hunkered in the shade while watching his friends drink beer.”

14) “Cons”

📖 Slang for “convicts,” meaning prisoners. A common informal term in movies, books, and real-life prisons.

💬 “The guards kept a close eye on the cons during work duty.”

💬 “Some cons try to escape, but most accept their sentences.”

15) “Hell” (as Emphasis)

📖 Here, “hell” is not about fire or the afterlife. It is used as a mild expletive for emphasis – showing strong feeling like surprise, frustration, or determination. Common in spoken English and films.

💬 “Hell, I didn’t even know she was coming!”

💬 “Hell, I’ll do it myself if no one else will.”

⚠️ Best avoided in formal situations.

16) Idiom Spotlight | Curry Favor With

📖 To “curry favor with” someone means to try to win their approval through flattery or helpfulness – usually in a way that feels calculated rather than genuine. Used when someone is clearly being nice to get something in return.

💬 “He brought coffee for the boss every morning to curry favor with him.”

💬 “Politicians often try to curry favor with the public before elections.”

🐴 Where Does It Come From?

The phrase comes from an old French story about a horse named Fauvel, who represented greed and corruption. People in the king’s court would groom Fauvel and flatter the king to get special treatment.

Over time, “curry Fauvel” became “curry favor” in English. The horse was forgotten, but the meaning remained: using flattery to gain advantage from someone in power.

🧠 So when someone “curries favor,” they:

• Act overly nice or helpful on purpose
• Have a hidden motive – they want something in return
• Use charm or flattery instead of honesty

This isn’t a person being genuinely kind – they’re playing a game to win approval.

✅ Wrap-Up

We’ve broken down the surprising idiom “curry favor,” explored its strange origins, and unpacked 15+ real-life expressions as you learn English with The Shawshank Redemption.

Andy’s clever use of charm and language shows us that even in the toughest situations, the right words can change everything – a perfect lesson in persuasion, prison slang, and everyday English.