Search results
A kowtow / ˈkaʊtaʊ / (simplified Chinese: 叩头; traditional Chinese: 叩頭) is the act of deep respect shown by prostration, that is, kneeling and bowing so low as to have one's head touching the ground. In Sinospheric culture, the kowtow is the highest sign of reverence.
Kowtow, in traditional China, the act of supplication made by an inferior to his superior by kneeling and knocking his head to the floor. This prostration ceremony was most commonly used in religious worship, by commoners who came to make a request of the local district magistrate, and by officials.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
to show too much respect to someone in authority, always doing what you are told and changing what you do in order to please them: He has never kowtowed to the mainstream, but has remained true to his convictions. They were accused of kowtowing to a corrupt government. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Physical gestures of respect.
The kowtow is the ancient Chinese way of showing respect, reverence and gratitude. ‘Kowtow’ is the Cantonese spelling of the pinyin kòutóu 叩 头 which means literally ‘ knock head ’. Some say that a proper kowtow requires the sound of the skull hitting the ground to be heard.
verb (used without object) to act in an obsequious manner; show servile deference. to touch the forehead to the ground while kneeling, as an act of worship, reverence, apology, etc., especially in former Chinese custom.
KOWTOW meaning: to agree too easily or eagerly to do what someone else wants you to do to obey someone with power in a way that seems weak usually + to.
Definitions of 'kowtow' 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. [ informal , disapproval ] [...]
