grade grubber

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A student who engages in grade grubbing; someone seeking to improve their grades by sucking up or by trying to negotiate for any additional marks.

Register: derogatory, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

I was also a grade grubber, not an uncommon affliction. During my first term of high school, I complained to my counselor that my Latin teacher had not given me the A that I fiercely believed I deserved.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “grade grubber” mean?

A student who engages in grade grubbing; someone seeking to improve their grades by sucking up or by trying to negotiate for any additional marks.

Is “grade grubber” formal or informal?

grade grubber is generally derogatory, slang.