polish the apple字面意思擦苹果，过去，美国学生为了讨好老师会把擦得闪闪发光的苹果送给老师，这个词组就是这么来的。真正的含义是“拍马屁，讨好”。

【例句】
I despise those people who polish the apple for the boss at work in order to get a promotion.
我看不起那些在工作上拍上司马屁而得到提升的人。

He tried to polish the apple to his boss for promotion.
他为了升职，试着讨好老板。