in tow
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4.2
- idiom
:
acompañado
- Then Mikhail Gorbachev, with the international press in tow, visited China from May 14 to 18.
- child in tow
- young man in tow
You're the one that decided to go out on public transport, you know, with the pram in tow.
- You're the one that decided to go out on public transport, you know, with the pram in tow.
- These are often women who flee abusive situations in the middle of the night with nothing more than the clothes on their backs and their kids in tow.
- You know, he came in me in tow and he brought me.
Examples
-
What would your mother think if you suddenly showed up with me in tow?
Fiction book (1994) -
I never imagined we would actually still be together and have a young son in tow.
Academic text (2000) -
At a little before eight, he came out with his children in tow.
Fiction book (1995) -
I see your entourage is in tow.
-
Women in bright colors with children in tow as they carried water, gathered firewood, and washed clothes in the river.
Fiction book (1992) -
My parents left for Tampa this afternoon, and I stayed at the airport an extra 2 hours watching people walk back and forth with their luggage in tow.
-
With his close aides in tow, the Mayor stares at the melee below.
Fiction book (1998) -
It's around dinner time, people milling about everywhere, shoppers with bags in tow, hungry couples, tired and cranky children.
Fiction book (1996) -
As the Olympic torch circled the globe with legions of protesters in tow, Beijing's Olympic dream quickly turned into a public-relations nightmare.
Academic text (2008) -
We went to the outdoor concert, with our friends in tow.
Synonyms
With other people present, not alone
Antonyms
How Accompanied
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense 'accompanied by' is derivable from the literal image of being pulled or dragged behind (tow = a pull, in = position), so a learner who knows both words can plausibly infer someone is following or being brought along. However, the use for people/companions is a metaphorical extension from vehicle towing and not fully compositional, so it is somewhat idiomatic and may require minimal exposure to confirm the nuance.
Etymology
In tow may come from the image of something tied and pulled behind, like a small boat or a child being led while held by the hand, with in showing closeness and tow meaning to pull. So today in tow means 'with' or 'following closely behind'.