ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bow out

idiom
Meaning

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


Examples
SIMPLE

I decided to bow out of the project early.

CONTEXTUAL

After years of leading the team, she chose to bow out while her reputation was still strong.

COMPLEX

Recognizing that the political climate had shifted against his policies, the senator decided to bow out gracefully rather than face a humiliating defeat at the polls.

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

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

  4. 04

    bow down before the porcelain god

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

  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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