Bow and scrape
verb phrase
To act in a very respectful way to someone more important, sometimes excessively so.
He's always bowing and scraping to his boss, it's quite pathetic.
Often appears as...
- bow and scrape to someone
- bow and scrape before superior
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To act in a very respectful way to someone more important, sometimes excessively so.
He's always bowing and scraping to his boss, it's quite pathetic.
Often appears as...
- bow and scrape to someone
- bow and scrape before superior
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Excessive Flattery
Using 'bow and scrape' implies that someone is behaving too eagerly to please or flatter someone else.
She didn't get that promotion by skill alone; she had to bow and scrape to the director.
Pro Tip 2/3Power Dynamics
The phrase often suggests a relationship where one person is much more powerful or authoritative.
Employees often feel pressured to bow and scrape to their CEOs in order to keep their jobs.
Pro Tip 3/3Negative Impression
It can leave a negative impression of the person doing it, implying weakness or subservience.
At the meeting, he bowed and scraped so much that he lost the respect of his colleagues.
Pro Tip 1/3Excessive Flattery
Using 'bow and scrape' implies that someone is behaving too eagerly to please or flatter someone else.
She didn't get that promotion by skill alone; she had to bow and scrape to the director.
Pro Tip 2/3Power Dynamics
The phrase often suggests a relationship where one person is much more powerful or authoritative.
Employees often feel pressured to bow and scrape to their CEOs in order to keep their jobs.
Pro Tip 3/3Negative Impression
It can leave a negative impression of the person doing it, implying weakness or subservience.
At the meeting, he bowed and scraped so much that he lost the respect of his colleagues.
Pro Tip 1/3Excessive Flattery
Using 'bow and scrape' implies that someone is behaving too eagerly to please or flatter someone else.
She didn't get that promotion by skill alone; she had to bow and scrape to the director.
Pro Tip 2/3Power Dynamics
The phrase often suggests a relationship where one person is much more powerful or authoritative.
Employees often feel pressured to bow and scrape to their CEOs in order to keep their jobs.
Pro Tip 3/3Negative Impression
It can leave a negative impression of the person doing it, implying weakness or subservience.
At the meeting, he bowed and scraped so much that he lost the respect of his colleagues.
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