bow out
To resign, or leave, with one's credibility or reputation still intact.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I decided to bow out of the project early.”
“After years of leading the team, she chose to bow out while her reputation was still strong.”
“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.”
- 01
another string to one's bow
Another skill, ability or resource to be used in case of failure.
- 02
bow and scrape
To behave in a servile, obsequious, or excessively polite manner.
- 03
bow down
To bow, to bend oneself as a gesture of deference or respect.
- 04
bow down before the porcelain god
Synonym of worship the porcelain god (“to vomit into a toilet bowl”).
- 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