bow down
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: 1. To bend one's body or head forward, especially as a sign of respect, submission, or reverence. This involves a physical lowering of the head or upper body. 2. To submit or yield to someone or something, often under pressure or out of respect. This is a figurative use meaning to accept another's authority or will.
Usage and Examples
- Literal Physical Action:
- The subjects were required to bow down before the emperor as a sign of loyalty.
- She bowed down in prayer at the altar.
- Figurative Submission:
- The dictator expected the entire nation to bow down to his commands.
- He refused to bow down to the pressure from his critics.
Advanced Usage
- "bow down before/to (someone/something)": This prepositional phrase specifies the object of the respect or submission.
- They bowed down before the sacred relic.
- We will not bow down to tyranny.
Variants and Related Words
- Bow (verb): The base form, meaning to bend the head or upper body. "Bow down" often implies a deeper, more formal, or more submissive action than "bow" alone.
- Prostrate (verb): To lie flat on the ground face downward, especially in submission or worship. This is a more extreme physical act than bowing down.
Synonyms
- Kneel: To go down or rest on one or both knees.
- Submit: To accept or yield to a superior force or authority.
- Defer: To yield to someone else's judgment or opinion out of respect.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Bow out: To withdraw or retire from a situation, competition, or job. () This is distinct from "bow down."
Related Idioms
- Bow and scrape: To behave in an excessively obedient or servile way. This idiom emphasizes overly flattering or fawning behavior beyond simply bowing down.
Verb
- bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head
- He bowed before the King
- She bowed her head in shame
- get into a prostrate position, as in submission