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.

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

词组	bring to knees
释义	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
随便看	step into (someone's) boots step into someone's boots step into (someone's) shoes step into someone's shoes step into (something) step into the breach step it up step (it) up a gear step-kid step-mom step-mother step off step off on the wrong foot step off the curb step on step on a crack, break your mother's back step on it Step on it! step on (one's) toes step on someone's toes step on the gas step on toes step out step out into step out into (some place)