"Curry favour” — The Shawshank Redemption"
Definition
To curry favour means to try to gain someone's approval or goodwill through flattery, helpfulness, or other slightly manipulative behaviour.
How to use it
In The Shawshank Redemption, survival often depends on knowing who to impress and how. Currying favour is what you do when you need something from someone in power and have to play the game to get it. It is not always negative — sometimes it just means being strategic. The word "curry" here has nothing to do with food. It comes from an Old French word meaning to groom or prepare.
Examples
► "He brought the manager coffee every morning, clearly trying to curry favour."
► "Currying favour with the right people got her the promotion."
From the lesson
7 Hollywood Idioms | The Ultimate Compilation
This phrase appears in the 7 Hollywood Idioms | The Ultimate Compilation lesson. Open it to watch the scene and download the free worksheet.
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