Brown nose

Posted by David FG on May 26, 2005

In Reply to: Brown nose posted by JingTin on May 26, 2005

: "Hey Charlie, you brown nose". That was What I heard years ago. It means something like "You stupid, always pleasing your boss" Why is it that "Charlie" refers to a stupid dude? And why do they use "Brown nose" but not other colours?

My understanding is that 'brown nose' has a rather crude origin. Someone who always tries to please a superior is also referred to as 'licking his/her a**e. This would, by the nature of its position, cause the nose to become brown in colour. (I hope no one is having breakfast while reading this.)

DFG

• Brown nose Smokey Stover 28/May/05