kowtow

listen to the pronunciation of kowtow
English - English
To bow very deeply
To kneel and bow low enough to touch one’s forehead to the ground
The act of kowtowing
To act in a very submissive manner
To kneel and bow low enough to touch one's forehead to the ground
try to gain favor by cringing or flattering; "He is always kowtowing to his boss"
a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission
The same as Kotow
{i} act of bowing low, act of kneeling and touching one's forehead to the ground; servile act
{f} bow low, kneel and touch one's forehead to the ground; grovel, act in a servile manner
disapproval If you say that someone kowtows to someone else, you are criticizing them because they are too eager to obey or be polite to someone in authority. See how stupidly they kow-tow to persons higher in the hierarchy. to be too eager to obey or be polite to someone in authority kowtow to (ke tou ; because when you bow very low you hit your head on the floor)
bend the knees and bow in a servile manner
kowtowed
past of kowtow
kowtowing
present participle of kowtow
kowtows
plural of kowtow
kowtow
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