Brown-nose

HEX: #6B4423 | Modern Palette

On White
8.48:1
PASS
On Black
2.48:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#6B4423
RGB
107, 68, 35
HSL
27°, 67% ,41%
CMYK
0, 36.45, 67.29, 58.04

About Brown-nose

Brown-nose (#6B4423) is a color with RGB(107, 68, 35) and HSL(27.5°, 67.29%, 41.96%). In design, it fits Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #234A6B, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #236B44 and #44236B. The name comes from Brown-nose (English).

  • HEX: #6B4423
  • RGB: 107, 68, 35
  • HSL: 27.5°, 67.29%, 41.96%
  • Style: Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #234A6B
  • Triadic colors: #236B44, #44236B
  • The name comes from Brown-nose (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Brown-nose #6B4423 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
BROWN-NOSE
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
BROWN-NOSE
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Brown-nose #6B4423 pairs with #234A6B as its complementary color, and #236B44 and #44236B in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

BROWN-NOSE
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

BROWN-NOSE
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

BROWN-NOSE
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

BROWN-NOSE
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

BROWN-NOSE
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

BROWN-NOSE

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Brown-nose #6B4423 moves from dark #130C06 tones through the base color to lighter #F9F2EC tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

BROWN-NOSE

Color Characteristics

Mood
Style
Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #525221
Protanopia #494923
Tritanopia #6D4141
Achromatopsia #4D4D4D

Frequently Asked Questions

Brown-nose (#6B4423) is a color with RGB(107, 68, 35) and HSL(27.5°, 67.29%, 41.96%).

#6B4423 pairs strongly with #234A6B as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#6B4423 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Warm styles.

The name Brown-nose is linked to Brown-nose from English, meaning To curry favor with someone in authority by flattery and subservience..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Brown-nose
Meaning To curry favor with someone in authority by flattery and subservience.
Language English
First Recorded Use Early 20th Century

History

The term 'brown-nose' is believed to have originated in the military or school settings in the United States. It is a vulgar idiom that graphically describes the act of being so obsequious to a superior that one's nose would literally come into contact with the superior's anus (implied to be 'brown' from feces). The earliest known printed uses appear in the 1930s, often in slang dictionaries or glossaries of military terms. Its use became more widespread after World War II.

First Recorded Use

1930s

Cultural Associations

This phrase is considered vulgar or crude and is generally avoided in formal settings. It carries a strong negative connotation, implying a lack of integrity and self-respect on the part of the 'brown-noser.' While widely understood, its explicitness means it's more common in informal speech among peers than in professional or polite discourse. Other, less vulgar synonyms include 'suck up,' 'flatter,' 'bootlick,' or 'toady.'

Similar Named Colors
Dark Brown #654321 ΔE 2.01
Sepia #704214 ΔE 3.47
Pullman Brown (UPS Brown) #644117 ΔE 3.60
Coffee #6F4E37 ΔE 4.71

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #6B4423;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #6B4423;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #6B4423;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #6B4423,
        #2371B3
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #6B4423,
        #2371B3
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$brown-nose: #6B4423;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$brown-nose-r: 107;
$brown-nose-g: 68;
$brown-nose-b: 35;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $brown-nose;
    color: rgba($brown-nose-r, $brown-nose-g, $brown-nose-b, 0.8);
}