bow and scrape
To behave in a servile, obsequious, or excessively polite manner.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He does not like to bow and scrape to his boss.”
“The ambitious intern felt he had to bow and scrape to the senior partners to get a promotion.”
“The courtier was known to bow and scrape before the king, hoping that such displays of humility would secure him a favorable position in the royal household.”
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another string to one's bow
Another skill, ability or resource to be used in case of failure.
- 02
bow down
To bow, to bend oneself as a gesture of deference or respect.
- 03
bow down before the porcelain god
Synonym of worship the porcelain god (“to vomit into a toilet bowl”).
- 04
bow out
To resign, or leave, with one's credibility or reputation still intact.
- 05
draw a long bow
To lie; to exaggerate.
- 06
draw the long bow
To exaggerate; to tell tall tales.
- 07
make one's bow
To debut, to bow.
- 08
pull the long bow
Synonym of draw the long bow (“to exaggerate; to tell tall tales”).
Last updated August 10, 2026