- 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. 2014.
bow and scrape
Look at other dictionaries:
bow and scrape — To kowtow, to ingratiate oneself sycophantically • • • Main Entry: ↑bow bow and scrape To be over obsequious • • • Main Entry: ↑scrape * * * behave in an obsequious way to someone in authority * * * bow and scrape : to treat someone who is… … Useful english 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./ … 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 — idi to be excessively polite or deferential … From formal English to slang
