brownie point
Also found in: Idioms.
Brownie point
also brownie pointn. Informal
An amount of credit considered as earned, especially by favorably impressing one having power or influence.
[From the practice of awarding points for achievement to Brownies in the Girl Scouts.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Brownie point
n
a notional mark to one's credit earned for being seen to do the right thing
[C20: from the mistaken notion that Brownie Guides earn points for good deeds]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
brown′ie point`
n.
a credit toward advancement or good standing gained esp. by currying favor.
[1960–65; from the point system used by Brownies for advancement]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.