bow down
To lower your head and body to show respect, or to stop fighting someone's power and do what they say.
Meanings
To bend the upper body or kneel as a gesture of reverence, worship, or respect.
"The monks bowed down before the altar at the beginning of the ceremony."
"You shall not make for yourself an idol... you shall not bow down to them or worship them."
— Exodus 20:4-5, The Bible (NIV)
To submit to someone's authority, pressure, or power, often reluctantly.
"The government refused to bow down to the protesters' demands."
The literal sense is used in religious, ceremonial, and cultural contexts. The figurative sense carries a strong tone of reluctant or forced submission. The phrase is also used dramatically to mean showing total admiration.
Commonly used with
Forms
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Synonyms
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