kowtow

verb

/ˌkaʊˈtaʊ/

[intransitive] (informal, disapproving)

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they kowtow	/ˌkaʊˈtaʊ/ /ˌkaʊˈtaʊ/
he / she / it kowtows	/ˌkaʊˈtaʊz/ /ˌkaʊˈtaʊz/
past simple kowtowed	/ˌkaʊˈtaʊd/ /ˌkaʊˈtaʊd/
past participle kowtowed	/ˌkaʊˈtaʊd/ /ˌkaʊˈtaʊd/
-ing form kowtowing	/ˌkaʊˈtaʊɪŋ/ /ˌkaʊˈtaʊɪŋ/

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kowtow (to somebody/something) to show somebody in authority too much respect and be too willing to obey them叩头；磕头；卑躬屈膝；唯命是从
- Her pride wouldn’t allow her to kowtow to anyone.她的自尊心不允许她向任何人磕头。
Word Originearly 19th cent.: from Chinese kētóu, from kē ‘knock’ + tóu ‘head’.

BNC: 35359 COCA: 27978

kowtow