bow and scrape

verb
UK: /ˌbaʊ ən ˈskreɪp/
US: /ˌbaʊ ən ˈskreɪp/

  1. To be very polite and respectful to someone important, often in a way that seems exaggerated or insincere to get their approval or favor.

    1. He had to bow and scrape before the boss every day. [ ] [ ]
    2. She wouldn't bow and scrape to get a promotion, relying on her skills. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

kowtow fawn grovel toady
bow and scrape noun

  1. Behavior that is excessively polite and respectful, often to gain favor from someone in authority, perceived as insincere.

    1. His bow and scrape annoyed everyone. [ ] [ ]
    2. The manager's bow and scrape before the CEO was sickening to witness. [ ] [ ]
bow and scrape adjective

  1. Acting in an excessively subservient manner, marked by exaggerated politeness and flattery, typically to gain favor.

    1. He gave a bow and scrape performance. [ ] [ ]
    2. The bow and scrape attitude was a clear attempt to impress the director. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "bow and scrape" is /ˌbaʊ ən ˈskreɪp/ in British English and /ˌbaʊ ən ˈskreɪp/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "bow and scrape": kowtow, fawn, grovel, toady.

Example usage of "bow and scrape": "He had to bow and scrape before the boss every day.". More examples on the page.