kowtow to

kowtow to (someone or something)

To seek esteem through deference to someone. Don't just kowtow to the boss—tell him what you really think! He'll respect you more for it. Legislators have been accused of kowtowing to corporate lobbyists following the repeal of the regulations.
See also: kowtow
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

kowtow to someone or something

to grovel to someone or something. I won't kowtow to anyone! You don't expect me to go in there and kowtow to that committee, do you?
See also: kowtow
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

kowtow to

v.
To show someone or something excessive respect and obedience in order to gain or maintain favor: The peasants had to kowtow to the dictator. The staff kowtowed to every plan their boss proposed.
See also: kowtow
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • kowtow
  • kowtow to (someone or something)
  • think much of (someone or something)
  • think a lot of
  • think a lot of (someone or something)
  • think highly of (someone or something)
  • think highly of somebody/something
  • think greatly of (someone or something)
  • think a great deal of (someone or something)
  • think better of somebody
References in classic literature
Sacramento gives us our appropriations and therefore we kowtow to Sacramento, and to the Board of Regents, and to the party press, or to the press of both parties."
Martin Eden
It is clearly one of master and servant, the Brexiteer myth of "an independent country" has been completely debunked as Boris Johnson does his utmost to kowtow to Donald Trump's wishes, receiving nothing in return.
UK is the servant of President Trump
Did that oblige us to kowtow to Kaiser Wilhelm II, 99 years later?
Battle for power in these turbulent times; LETTERS Get in touch - tell us what you think Email: letters@coventrytelegraph.net Twitter: @coventrytelegraph Facebook: facebook.com/coventrytelegraph Post: Coventry Telegraph, Leicester Row, Canal Basin, Coventry, CV1 4LY
"It is disappointing that the Prime Minister has again opted to kowtow to this US administration.
No Trump dinner at Palace for Mr Corbyn
It is downright pathetic for Malacanang to kowtow to Beijing's wishes all the time,' the party-list lawmaker said.
Palace hit for 'mendicancy,' Beijing for 'bullying'
PS: "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel" are disgraceful words, no wonder remainers kowtow to the EU!
Remember the debt we owe to Churchill; LETTERS
At weddings, couples may sometimes kowtow to their respective parents, although the standing bow is currently a lot more common.
Temple Run: Dash your way to a fresh start
He sees risk that China will hunker down and resist bullying on trade, rather than kowtow to demand, which will likely see the tariff war ratcheting up rather than down.
Gundlach sees the next major risk as the dollar
This harassment from the Chinese government and netizens led 85C to go on the defensive and kowtow to Beijing's world view.
85C Bakery Cafe kowtows to Chinese bullying, reaffirms 1992 consensus
Theresa May will not kowtow to betting shop bosses and demands action.
Minister helps deliver a move long overdue; VOICE OF THE SUNDAY PEOPLE
And we don't have to kowtow to the Germans and French, who seem to have short memories.
A time for change AT [...]
The Tories are failing economically, badly split on Europe and immoral when they kowtow to Saudi Arabia's brutal regime.
Heal the rifts; VOICE OF THE
I WAS intrigued by the letter sent in by Alan Carter of Newcastle with his opinion boots and bombs are a futile weapon to use against an aggressive regime, ie ISIL or IS as they wish to be known, what he doesn't say is what he would do to defeat this murderous group who wish to wipe out the whole of the Western population if we don't kowtow to their way of life.
Only bombs and boots can beat IS
He also said there was no need to "kowtow to the Americans every time they wanted something done", especially when this involved checks the US did not impose on its own domestic routes.
BA boss slams US airport security
And he said there was no need to "kowtow to the Americans ever y time they wanted something done".
STOP KOWTOWING TO U.S. ON AIR SECURITY; BA boss slams shoe checks