kowtow

Everyday

1. To kowtow is to kneel and touch the ground with your forehead to show deep respect, as people once did before the Emperor of China. tree →
2. (informal) To kowtow to someone is to obey them too much and try too hard to please them. tree →
3. A kowtow is this deep kneeling bow. tree →

In the lessons

In history about imperial China it is a real bow; in everyday talk it is a criticism: someone «kowtows to» the boss, the bully or the rich, so the reader learns that person is not standing up for themselves. Phrase: kowtow to someone.

Examples

• Visitors had to kowtow before the emperor. tree →
• A British ambassador refused to kowtow in 1793. tree →
• He kowtows to the team captain all the time. tree →
• Don't kowtow to bullies; tell a teacher. tree →
• The servant made a low kowtow. tree →
• I won't kowtow just because she is popular. tree →
• The king expected everyone to kowtow to him. tree →

Note

Comes from Chinese «kētóu», meaning «knock head». Past: kowtowed. In the second sense it is negative and a little rude about the person who kowtows. Usually followed by «to».