ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bow down

idiom
Meaning

To bow, to bend oneself as a gesture of deference or respect.


Examples
SIMPLE

The actors bow down to the audience after the play.

CONTEXTUAL

In the old story, the villagers had to bow down whenever the king walked by.

COMPLEX

The defeated soldiers were forced to bow down before the conqueror as a sign of their total submission.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    another string to one's bow

    Another skill, ability or resource to be used in case of failure.

  2. 02

    bow and scrape

    To behave in a servile, obsequious, or excessively polite manner.

  3. 03

    bow down before the porcelain god

    Synonym of worship the porcelain god (“to vomit into a toilet bowl”).

  4. 04

    bow out

    To resign, or leave, with one's credibility or reputation still intact.

  5. 05

    draw a long bow

    To lie; to exaggerate.

  6. 06

    draw the long bow

    To exaggerate; to tell tall tales.

  7. 07

    make one's bow

    To debut, to bow.

  8. 08

    pull the long bow

    Synonym of draw the long bow (“to exaggerate; to tell tall tales”).

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