bow and scrape

bow and scrape
bow and scrape
To kowtow, to ingratiate oneself sycophantically
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Main Entry:bow
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bow and scrape
To be over-obsequious
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Main Entry:scrape

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behave in an obsequious way to someone in authority

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bow and scrape
: to treat someone who is powerful or wealthy in an extremely respectful way especially in order to get approval, friendship, etc.

She's disgusted by politicians who bow and scrape before wealthy contributors.

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Main Entry:bow
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bow and scrape — see bow, 1
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Main Entry:scrape

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ˌbow and ˈscrape idiom
(disapproving) to be too polite to an important person in order to gain their approval

She was beginning to tire of all their bowing and scraping.

Main entry:bowidiom

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • bow and scrape — {v.} To be too polite or obedient from fear or hope of gain; act like a slave. * /The old servant bowed and scraped before them, too obedient and eager to please./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • bow and scrape — {v.} To be too polite or obedient from fear or hope of gain; act like a slave. * /The old servant bowed and scraped before them, too obedient and eager to please./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • bow and scrape — ► bow and scrape behave in an obsequious way. Main Entry: ↑bow …   English terms dictionary

  • bow and scrape (to someone) — showing disapproval phrase to show too much respect for someone Thesaurus: to treat someone with excessive respectsynonym Main entry: bow …   Useful english dictionary

  • bow and scrape — verb /ˈbaʊəndskreɪp/ a) to make a deep bow with the right leg drawn back (thus scraping the floor), left hand pressed across the abdomen, right arm held aside. b) to show excessive politeness or servility. Syn: make a leg …   Wiktionary

  • bow and scrape — behave obsequiously. → bow …   English new terms dictionary

  • bow\ and\ scrape — v To be too polite or obedient from fear or hope of gain; act like a slave. The old servant bowed and scraped before them, too obedient and eager to please …   Словарь американских идиом

  • bow and scrape —    To say that someone is bowing and scraping means that they are being excessively polite or servile.     The President was greeted with much bowing and scraping …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • bow and scrape — to try too hard to please someone in a position of authority. It s embarrassing to see staff bowing and scraping to the new Prime Minister. (often in continuous tenses) …   New idioms dictionary

  • bow and scrape — idi to be excessively polite or deferential …   From formal English to slang

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