forelock

forelock-tugging

A show of excessive deference toward someone in a superior position. I hate being in meetings with the CEO because then I have to witness all of the managers' forelock-tugging.

take time by the forelock

To act decisively; to accept an opportunity without hesitation. If time is pictured with just a forelock of hair, then it can only be grabbed as it comes toward you, not as it leaves. What are you waiting for? Take time by the forelock and accept that fantastic internship! My anxiety usually keeps me from taking time by the forelock.
See also: by, forelock, take, time

touch (one's) forelock

To show excessive deference toward someone in a superior position. An allusion to the former act of pulling one's frontmost hair in lieu of having a hat to tip. I hate being in meetings with the CEO because then I have to witness all of the regional managers touching their forelocks like fawning sycophants.
See also: forelock, touch

tug (one's) forelock

To show excessive deference toward someone in a superior position. An allusion to the former act of pulling one's frontmost hair in lieu of having a hat to tip. I hate being in meetings with the CEO because then I have to witness all of the regional managers tugging their forelocks like fawning sycophants.
See also: forelock, tug
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

tug your forelock

BRITISH
If someone tugs their forelock, they show a lot of respect to someone in a high social position. I don't know how you can stand bowing and scraping and tugging your forelock to all those rich old crones. Note: You can also say that someone touches their forelock. A lot of people seem to think we're supposed to go round touching our forelock and scraping our heads against the floor. We're not. Note: You can refer to this kind of behaviour as forelock-tugging or forelock-touching. The idea of forelock-tugging is totally alien to us, as is the idea that some people are born to rule. Note: These expressions are used to show that the speaker thinks that too much respect is being shown. Note: A forelock is a lock of hair that falls over a person's forehead. In the past, it was customary for lower class people to remove their hats in front of upper class people. If they were not wearing a hat, they touched their forelock instead.
See also: forelock, tug
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

take time by the forelock

seize an opportunity. literary
The Latin writer Phaedrus described Opportunity or Occasion as being bald except for a long forelock, a personification that was illustrated in Renaissance emblem books and was applied also to Time.
See also: by, forelock, take, time

touch (or tug) your forelock

raise a hand to your forehead in deference when meeting a person of higher social rank.
See also: forelock, touch
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

touch/tug your ˈforelock

(disapproving) show too much respect for a person of a higher rank or status: This is a democratic country and we don’t want people tugging their forelocks.In the past, people either took off their hats or pulled on their forelocks (= the hair above the forehead) to show respect.
See also: forelock, touch, tug
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • catch a tiger by the tail
  • chain of command
  • bring (someone) to heel
  • bring someone to heel
  • bring to heel
  • call (someone) to heel
  • blame for
References in periodicals archive
Fellow judge Stewart Copeland, ex-drummer from The Police, now mockingly bows and forelock tugs towards her.
Tin famous, in case you'd forgotten
Edward, stout yeoman that he is, has taken to tugging what remains of his forelock and can normally be found of an evening clipping the pubOs croquet lawn with a pair of sterling silver nail scissors.
Peter Thomas on Monday: Time to clip the pubOs croquet lawn [ETH] Her MajestyOs coming to the Nags Head
We've all moved on a bit from the days when we'd touch a forelock at the sniff of Royalty.
Lindsay Fergus's column: What about the faithful servants?
Waardenburg -- has several hallmarks, including widely spaced eyes that are pinched at the inner corners, deafness, light blue or mismatched eye color, fused eyebrows, and a white forelock of hair.
Hearing gene; sounding out the heredity of deafness
However his daughters shouldn't worry, as dad faces daily punishment for his sins: Looking in the shaving mirror thinking "why, after 40 years in journalism, am I sentenced every day to bow and scrape on all fours, tugging my forelock until my balls squeak, describing in reverential terms a story no-one wants to hear, about people who treat me like a piece of week-old corgi crap".
NICK REFLECTS ON SORRY FATE
Those physically capable of doing so immediately bent the knee before him, touching forelocks (those who had enough forelock to touch).
Bowled over by Glyndwr link; Yousay IN YOUR OPINION..
Harvey has a skin condition that is aggravated by flies, but now he cannot swat them away without his tail and forelock.
'Idiots' target horses
To tug the forelock, accept what we are given and, above all, not to rock the boat.
Agenda for success; YOUR LETTERS TO THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF WALES
And what sort of independence still leaves the Dukes of Westminster and Sutherland in possession of most of the land, people from a couple of private schools and universities dominating our Civil Service and boardrooms, and saddles us with a First Minister who tugs the forelock to Donald Trump?
The Great Crawl; Yourview
Why should I tug my forelock by calling someone "Lord this" or "Sir that"?
Where's the honour in the New Year's list?
Bramble has also had his mane and tail slashed and his stablemate Polly, an Anglo-Arab, has had her forelock and tail cut.
Vow over horror attacks on pony
It's time forelock tugging was put on the banned list alongside hunting.
Horse Racing: Weed out the racists
(Mind you, we have a new lass whose forelock I wouldn't mind tugging, I can tell you.
`I work every hour God sends and you lot of communists come out with this nonsense'
But Osborne's out of touch if he expects families to tug a forelock when workers are an average PS1,600 worse off.
POINTS OF DISORDER #1
They were so natural and caring", this modern and ever so 'umble Uriah Heep told us - I presume Mr Leaver was genuflecting and tugging on his forelock as he spoke.
Creeping up to the royals