bring someone to their knees
To defeat and make submit to orders.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Derived from the physical posture of kneeling as a gesture of submission before an individual in power. The image is one of enforced supplication, preserved in the language as a marker of total defeat.
- 01
as if someone owns the place
Alternative form of like someone owns the place.
- 02
beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
- 03
bend the knee
To swear fealty or allegiance to another person.
- 04
bless someone with
To give or bestow, as a gift from God.
- 05
bring a knife to a gunfight
To enter into a confrontation or other challenging situation without being adequately equipped or prepared.
- 06
bring a lump to someone's throat
To engender a strong emotional reaction.
- 07
bring back to life
To return someone to a state of consciousness or living after a state of unconsciousness, death or near-death.
- 08
bring down the curtain
To bring something to an end.
Last updated August 10, 2026