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  • Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Verb Phrase 152. The verb phrase today is to

  • kowtow to. Okay. Let's take a look at the note here. If someone kowtow to

  • another person in power or authority, he or she will give in will give in or give

  • in to and do whatever they want. Often in a way that shows respect for those in

  • authority. So you kowtow to someone. Okay. Let's continue.

  • Of course, kowtow is derived from. So it comes from... directly from the Chinese

  • word for kou tou which is formed using the word kuo which you know, is that

  • it's like a verb to mean to knock or to hit . To knock with a noun tou

  • head. The original and literal use was the act of kneeling and touching one's

  • head to the ground. You know, you've probably seen this in the movies or, or

  • many other places and it may be some show where somebody got down and they reach

  • their head actually touches the ground as a way of showing respect and authority to

  • those in power. Okay. Well anyway. Let's say we have three

  • examples how we used it in English anyway. So first one. In the end she will

  • have to kowtow to her boss's wishes if she wants to keep her job. Yeah. So she

  • might have to give in . Even though that sounds like she probably had a little

  • bit of a disagreement , it may be going on but in the end maybe she will eventually

  • give in. Number two. I will never kowtow to his demands. You know, we might hear

  • somebody say that in this way and they're not going to give in. That's it

  • All right. Deal No Deal. It doesn't matter. I'm not kowtowing to their demands. And

  • number three. In North Korea, everyone is expected to kowtow to Kim Jong Un. Of

  • course, the leader of North Korea. Anyway, I hope you got it . I hope it

  • was clear. Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.

Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Verb Phrase 152. The verb phrase today is to

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