The phrase “curry favour” is a common expression, that is prevalent in the English language. It is often used to explain the process of gaining the goodwill of someone in authority or power through the process of flattery and submissive behaviors. This phrase also includes the negative undertones of scheming and deceitfulness, implying that a person who is ‘currying favor’ is not doing so because of genuine regard or appreciation of the other party but to get something in return.
Meaning of “Curry Favour”
The phrase “curry favor” means to attempt to gain the support or endorsement of another person by bowing or through submissive behavior. The expression reflects that the person who is doing the “currying” is not acting so because of genuine regard or love for the other person but to attain some special favour or treatment, such as getting a promotion etc.
The phrase has a negative implication, which means that the behavior is not genuine and is done with an ulterior motive. The term is considered as deceitful, because it involves exploiting a relationship for personal gain rather developing a healthy and genuine friendship. In this way, the phrase is used to refer to the people who attempt to get what they want by supporting the authorities in power.
Origin of “Curry Favour”
The phrase “curry favour” includes an interesting history and can be traced back to the middle ages. It is connected with both language and horse riding skills. The phrase does not relate to the tasty spicy dish called curry. In fact, it originates from the medieval English ‘curry’, which means to rub down a horse and Old French ‘fauvel’ which indicates color of the horse like a fallow deer.
In the early fourteenth century, there was a comical French poem known as “Roman de Fauvel”. It described a fallow-coloured horse named Fauvel. The horse symbolized the human vices, especially deception and craftiness. This is evident in the story as people would rub or comb Fauvel in a bid to win his favor, which shows how people would scheme to get favor from the powerful.
With the passage of time, the original reference became faded, and the word “Fauvel” was evolved into “favor” in English, and the current phrase “curry favor” emerged. The first known citation of this English modified version dates from the early 16th century. Today, the phrase is defined as the act of gaining favour through sweet talking and favourable actions.
Use of “Curry Favour” in Literature
In literature, the phrase “curry favor” has been used in the decision making context, power and manipulation themes in relation to human behavior. This phrase is used by authors to comment on social relations and to refer to persons who are dishonest and weak and will do anything to get what they want. Following are some examples from literature, wherein this particular phrase has been used:
Example#1
“Othello” by William Shakespeare
Shakespeare does not explicitly use the phrase ‘curry favour’ in Othello but the character of Iago is a classic example of a person who tries to curry favour. Iago manipulates Othello and gains his trust through sweet-talking and deception to set a plan to destroy him.
“I follow him to serve my turn upon him. / We cannot all be masters, nor all masters / Cannot be truly followed.”
(Othello, Act 1, Scene 1)
In this passage, Iago reveals his true intentions to the audience. He revealed that he was not loyal to Othello at all, but worked for his own benefit. This is a perfect example of the idea of ‘currying favour’, because Iago is attempting to win Othello’s favour and trust in order to later use this to his advantage and harm him. Iago has the power to manipulate through the act of flattery, hence the excerpt is a perfect example of someone who is curry favour for his own benefit.
Example#2
“The Mirror of Good Manners ” Alexander Barclay
It is widely agreed that one of the first recorded examples of the phrase ‘curry favour’ is in the poem “The Mirror of Good Manners” by Alexander Barclay. In chapter 3, Barclay warns the readers against flattery and deceit, advising that they should not seek to win the favour of the great and powerful.
“They that flatter and curry favour, they shall not escape unscathed.”
In this excerpt, the author criticizes the people who try to please the powerful by using flattery arguing that it will have a negative outcome in the end. This usage of the phrase is quite consistent with the initial sense of the term, which connected it to deception.
Example#3
“Vanity Fair “by William Makepeace Thackeray
In the book, Becky Sharp is a woman who seeks to manipulate her way into the upper class. Her looks, humor, and most of all her ability to compliment people makes her a master of controlling others.
“She was always ready to curry favour with the great.”
Becky Sharp’s ambition is evident in the novel through her tendency of flattering and currying favor with the rich and powerful. This is a clear example of currying favour, as she uses fake smiles and gestures to win people’s favour for her own benefit. This shows how the phrase has been used in order to describe the individuals who take advantage of relationships for attaining something for themselves.
Example#4
“Animal Farm” by George Orwell
In the novel, all the animals try to appease their new leader Napoleon after the chaos that occurs once he takes over the farm. This is well depicted by Squealer who is always supporting Napoleon and brainwashing other animals to ensure that they support Napoleon as well.
“They learned how to curry favour with the pigs.”
Orwell shows the animals’ efforts in trying to please their new rulers. They try to win the favor and submission of Napoleon and the other pigs in order to get better food and treatment. The application of the phrase in this aspect reflects on the aspect of domination with the pigs using their authority to influence other animals.
Example#5
“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë
In the novel, Blanche Ingram wants to get close to Mr. Rochester and for this reason she uses her pretty looks and charm. However, her love is fake because all she wants is to get his money rather than being with him in a relationship.
“Blanche Ingram…seeking to curry favour with her smiles and glances.”
Blanche tries to please Mr. Rochester in every possible way but her actions are driven by her need for wealth. She tries to win his attention by pampering him and being sweet to him but the lack of love she has for him makes her very obvious. This example of the use of the phrase clearly depicts how the act of curry favour usually entails the display of rather vapid, selfish actions.
See also: Two Heads Are Better Than One Phase
use of “Curry Favour” in Modern Contexts
The expression ‘curry favour’ is still used in today’s societies to explain circumstances where people or organizations attempt to gain the favour of the authorities. It is commonly used in political speech, commercial world and in everyday life. People will use the phrase as a way of complaining about the perceived dishonesty or selfishness of someone’s actions.
In Politics
When it comes to politics, “curry favor” is a common term which refers to the politician or the lobbyists who try to obtain favour or special treatment from the authorities. For example, a person in public office may be seen flattering the wealthy individuals to get monetary or political support for their campaign. The phrase is also used to express opinion on actions that are considered as politically motivated with intention of gaining votes or any other favor from particular group or persons.
For example, a headline may be “Senator Senator Accused of Currying Favour with Corporate Lobbyists”, implying that the politician is acting unethically by attempting to cultivate the admiration of organized interest groups. The use of the phrase is meant to paint a bad picture of the act of seeking an audience’s favor with no regard for the interests of the constituents.
In Business
In business, the phrase ‘curry favour’ is used to refer to the employees or certain executives who try to win the favour of their employers, in order to get promotion, increase the ranks and to get a better pay. The phrase is often used to call into question behavior which is perceived to be obsequious or self serving, implying that rather than working towards the good of the company the person is more concerned with their own professional progression.
For example, an employee who subtlety showers the boss with compliments or gifts, and does anything for the boss may be perceived to be brown nosing with the aim of getting a promotion. It can also be used to refer to companies that go around embezzling, bribing or giving kickbacks in anticipation of a favorable nod from some authority figure or Province.
In Everyday Conversation
In the everyday conversation, the phrase “curry favour” is mostly employed in a rather frivolous or sarcastic manner to describe attempts of winning someone’s favor. For example, a parent might say to their child: “Don’t think you can curry favour with me by doing the dishes”, which reflects that the child is trying to manipulate the parents to get favour by performing a chore.
The phrase is also used to refer to the situations where a person is being overly flattering or friendly with a view of getting something from the other person. In this case, a friend may say, “He is just trying to curry favour with you because he wants you to do his homework’, which means that the person is not acting out of the goodness of his or her heart.
See also: Dog In The Manger Meaning
