score points
English
Verb
score points (third-person singular simple present scores points, present participle scoring points, simple past and past participle scored points)
- Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see score, point.
- (figurative, often derogatory) to outdo (someone) in an argument, especially by pandering or rhetorical convenience
- He scored points with teachers by promising them higher pay.
- Instead of putting forward meaningful proposals, she's just trying to score political points.
Further reading
- “score points” in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press.