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Meanings of kowtow in English

Catalan
agenollar-se

Bend the knees and bow in a servile manner.

agenollar-se

Try to gain favor by cringing or flattering.

A former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission.

Synonyms
Examples for "kotow"
Examples for "kotow"
1
It was the elder one to whom the world kotow-ed.
Memoir and Letters of Francis W. Newman
2
The smile returned to her face, and her body bent in a kind of kotow.
Parrot & Co.
3
Even in the midst of a mess like this we'll have to kotow to his rank or he'll probably be reporting us.
The U-boat hunters
4
I believe if you asked me to do the Chinese kotow, and bend to the earth before you, I'd secretly be dying to do it.
The Militants / Stories of Some Parsons, Soldiers, and Other Fig...
5
Later we ladies were invited into the room, where the Chinese all kotowed.
Court Life in China: The Capital, Its Officials and People
Usage of kowtow in English
1
I didn't know-She has an overwhelming urge to kowtow before him.
The windup girl
2
Since when is it my job to kowtow to heathen vegetarians, anyway?
Happiness key
3
But it never is, because people like Steve cannot kowtow to anyone.
A colossal failure of common sense: the inside story of the coll...
4
You've gotten tired of reading that you kowtow to your banking clients.
Reuters
5
But more importantly, it's not just a statement or kowtow to government regulations.
Wired
6
He was not a man to kowtow to such ambiguities without argument, however.
Complete Books of Blood
7
This was a fellow who was used to having tenants kowtow and cringe.
11/22/63
8
Then she would press her hands together, kowtow, and pour out fervent prayers.
Petals from the sky
9
Audiences kowtow accordingly, on platforms whose templates further funnel their responses.
The Guardian
10
She told me: Whenever I give you small things you need not kowtow.
Two Years in the Forbidden City
11
Having forced her to kowtow, Long Sin turned to the assembled devil dancers.
The Exploits of Elaine
12
We dive down alleys so that we may not kowtow.
Men, Women, and Boats
13
In New York the '400' all kowtow to Von Taer.
Aunt Jane's Nieces in Society
14
If he has a family, they'll kowtow to him.
You can't stop me
15
No matter how servile he may be at home, everyone will kowtow to him abroad.
Villa Elsa / A Story of German Family Life
16
I mean, if she's a big star, won't the studio kind of kowtow to her?
Blood rites
About this term
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Translations for kowtow
Kowtow through the time