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bow down

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
bow down (to someone or something) and bow to someone or something
1. Lit. to bend or curtsy to someone or something. Do you expect me to bow down or something when you enter? He bowed down low to the duchess. She faced forward and bowed to the altar.
2. Fig. to submit to someone or something; to yield sovereignty to someone or something. I will not bow down to you, you dictator! We will never bow to a foreign prince.
See also: bow

bow down (to somebody/something)
to obey someone or something The old man expects me to bow down to him, but I won't do it.
Etymology: based on the literal meaning of bow down (to show obedience or respect by bending the head down or the body forward)
See also: bow


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We live in freedom, but you bow down to and slave for men, who in return for your services flog you with whips and put collars on your necks.
Michael,' he says, 'come here and bow down to his feet; and you, young woman, you bow down too; and you, grandchildren, also bow down before him
Eumaeus was frightened at the outcry they all raised, so he put the bow down then and there, but Telemachus shouted out at him from the other side of the cloisters, and threatened him saying, "Father Eumaeus, bring the bow on in spite of them, or young as I am I will pelt you with stones back to the country, for I am the better man of the two.
 
 
 
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