# kiss someone's ring

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/kiss-someones-ring
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To give respect or reverence to someone; to express servitude to someone.

## Examples

- He refuses to kiss the boss's ring.
- To get the promotion, he had to kiss the manager's ring and agree with every bad idea.
- The ambitious politician knew that to secure the party's nomination, he would eventually have to kiss the ring of the powerful incumbent.

## Origin

An allusion to a traditional manner of expressing obediance to a bishop (especially the pope) or king.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.