kneel down

[살점]

kneel down

1. Literally, to go down on one or both of one's knees in front of someone or something, a gesture of obedience, subservience, loyalty, or respect.

The knight knelt down in the presence of the king.

Several people were kneeling down in prayer when I entered the church.

2. To be in a position of weakness, subservience, or vulnerability.

If they think that their economic sanctions can make our country kneel down, then they've got another think coming!



kneel down before (someone or something)

To show devotion, loyalty, or subservience to someone or something.

A reference to the act of physically kneeling in front of someone or something, a sign of such loyalty and subservience.

The monarch wants the entire continent to kneel before him.

This protest is to show the government that we will never kneel before it.

Everyone complains about their loss of privacy while simultaneously kneeling before the altar of technology and social media.


■ kneel

to go down into, or stay in, a position where one or both knees are on the ground:

She knelt (down) beside the child.

He knelt in front of the altar and prayed


to go down into, or stay in, a position where one or both knees are on the ground:

She knelt down to look under the bed for her doll.

Gibbons kneeled next to the plant and started digging.