bring to knees

bring (someone or something) to (someone's or something's) knees

1. To render a person or group submissive by weakening or defeating them. The general believes that such an attack will bring the opposing troops to their knees.
2. To disrupt or halt a process or thing. Unfortunately, a broken printer has brought the mailing project to its knees. Many fear that all of these new regulations will bring the stock market to its knees.
See also: bring, knee
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bring to (one's) knees

To reduce to a position of subservience or submission.
See also: bring, knee
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • bring (someone or something) to (someone's or something's) knees
  • bring somebody to their knees
  • bring someone or something to their knees
  • bring someone to their knees
  • bring something to its knees
  • bring to one's knees
  • the worm (has) turned
  • the worm has turned
  • worm turned
  • render up
References in periodicals archive
The irony is that the world power could not bring to knees such weak and disorganised groups in so many years who are engaged in a guerrilla warfare in an unsystematic way with no advance weapons at hands.
The Afghan conundrum