Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to take a bow

to take a bow

14 3.7
Bend forward to thank people who clap for you
  • idiom
  • /teɪk ə baʊ/
translation icon : hacer una reverencia
  • After the performance, the lead actor stepped forward to take a bow amidst loud applause.
  • stand and take a bow
  • then you took a bow
  • get to take a bow

So, Lynn, stand up and take a bow right here.

Examples

  • Towards the end of the event, the performers came out and lined up on stage to take a bow, each making his or her exit before a loudly applauding audience.

    Academic text (1998)

  • At the end, the audience wanted the hero to stand up and take a bow.

    Blog text (12)

  • Come on, Dad, stand up and take a bow.

    Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)

  • All right, take a bow.

    North of the 10 (2022)

  • Stand up, take a bow!

    Don't Worry Darling (2022)

  • Stand up, girls, and take a bow; you made all the difference tonight.

    Blog text (32)

  • The boys rush back out, take a bow, and run back off, having a great time.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The spotlight is finally yours, so take a bow.

    Stream (2024)

  • Stand and take a bow, Mr. Cooper.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Eddie, take a bow!

    Ed Wood (1994)

Synonyms

to bow respectfully
vsto take a bow
1 3.9

Bend your upper body forward from the waist to show respect

is used specifically to accept audience applause rather than general respect
to make one's bow
vsto take a bow
7.2

To come on stage at the end of a show and thank the audience

has identical meaning and is an alternative conventional phrasing
to conge
vsto take a bow
  • Archaic
9.9

To bow in a formal way to show respect or say goodbye

is mainly used to accept applause after a performance rather than to leave formally

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

How Public

to take a bow
14 3.7
to bow
132 1.7
to nod
442 1.0
to smile
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

take a bow infinitive
taking a bow present participle
takes a bow third person singular
took a bow past
taken a bow past participle

Morphology

take + a + bow

The phrase is compositionally built from 'take' + 'a' + 'bow' and follows the common English pattern (e.g. 'take a seat', 'take a walk') where 'take' + noun means to perform the action denoted by the noun. Since 'bow' as a bodily bend is literal and the construction is cross-linguistically familiar, a B1 learner who knows the words would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Take a bow comes from actors and other performers bending forward in a bow at the end of a show to thank the audience and accept applause. That's why it means 'to acknowledge applause or praise'.