# pass under the yoke

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pass-under-the-yoke
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Of a defeated army, to be humiliated by the victors.

## Examples

- The defeated soldiers had to pass under the yoke.
- After the long siege ended, the surviving troops were forced to pass under the yoke as a sign of their total submission.
- The conquering general demanded that the entire captured battalion pass under the yoke, ensuring their humiliation was witnessed by the cheering crowds.

## Origin

From the Latin *sub iugum*, the phrase records a ritual humiliation practised by the peoples of ancient Italy, most notably the Romans and the Samnites. Defeated soldiers were compelled to march beneath a literal yoke, an arrangement of spears that forced the men to stoop. This physical gesture of submission served as a public acknowledgement that the conquered were no longer their own masters. The modern English word subjugate stems from this same Latin source. The practice ensured that the conquered could return home with their lives, provided they were willing to trade their dignity for the privilege of continuing to breathe.

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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.