kowtow
verb
[ kaʊˈtaʊ ]
• act in an excessively subservient manner.
• "she didn't have to kowtow to a boss"
Similar:
grovel,
behave obsequiously,
be obsequious,
be servile,
be sycophantic,
fawn on,
bow and scrape,
toady,
truckle,
abase oneself,
humble oneself,
prostrate oneself,
curry favour with,
flatter,
court,
woo,
dance attendance on,
make up to,
play up to,
ingratiate oneself with,
crawl,
creep,
suck up to,
brown-nose,
butter up,
be all over,
fall all over,
lick someone's boots,
smoodge to,
blandish,
• kneel and touch the ground with the forehead in worship or submission as part of Chinese custom.
Similar:
prostrate oneself,
bow,
bow down before,
genuflect,
do/make obeisance,
fall on one's knees before,
get down on one's knees before,
kneel before,
salaam,
fall down before someone,
curtsy,
bow and scrape,
pay homage,
show reverence,
show deference,
humble oneself before someone,
worship,
kowtow
noun
• an act of kowtowing as part of Chinese custom.
Origin:
early 19th century: from Chinese kētóu, from kē ‘knock’ + tóu ‘head’.
