# tug one's forelock

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tug-ones-forelock
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To show deference or obsequious respect.

## Examples

- He had to tug his forelock to show respect to the boss.
- You do not need to tug your forelock to get a promotion here.
- In the old days, servants were expected to tug their forelock whenever they passed their employer in the hallway.
- Modern employees should not have to tug their forelock just because the company director enters the room to give a brief update.
- The villagers felt forced to tug their forelock before the local landlord, a gesture that highlighted the deep social divide of the era.

## Origin

Derived from a traditional gesture of deference toward the higher classes, the expression describes a physical motion intended to substitute for a formal bow. The practitioner would pull down a lock of hair at the front of the head, or the peak of a cap if one were worn, as a visible acknowledgement of social rank. Though the physical requirement for the salute has largely vanished, the phrase persists as a shorthand for the act of performing an excessively submissive greeting.

---

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.