bow before

bow before (someone)

To obey, pledge allegiance, or submit one's will to someone, especially in a reverential or servile manner. My allegiance is to my own country; I'll never bow before you! The autocratic CEO all but makes his employees bow before him.
See also: before, bow
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bow before someone or something

 
1. Lit. to bend or curtsy in respect to someone or something. I will not bow before any king or queen. Henry insisted that I bow before him.
2. Fig. to submit to someone or something; to surrender to someone or something. Our country will never bow before a dictator's demands. We will not bow before such a corrupt politician.
See also: before, bow
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • bow before (someone)
  • bow down before (someone)
  • bow to (someone or something)
  • change (one's) stripes
  • change one's stripes
  • change one's stripes/spots, cannot
  • a change in (one's) stripes
  • bring (someone) to heel
  • bring someone to heel
  • bring to heel
References in periodicals archive
First, the cams must line up with the string when you look at the bow before drawing it.
Great budget bows: quiet, fast And less expensive, what's not to like?
Do we bow before we get to the priest or eucharistic minister?
Take a bow: can the body language of the new liturgical rules help create community?
Obviously, if the bow will tune it is a good one, so whenever possible, attempt to tune the bow before you buy it.
Solving problem bows: arrows flying erratically? Cams out of kilter? There may or may not be a fix
First, and this is probably the biggest issue, the two cams or single-cam and idler wheel must line up with the string when you look at the bow before drawing it.
Budget bow gear: low price tags can definitely produce high results