take a bow
The phrase "take a bow" originates from the theatrical tradition of acknowledging audience applause at the end of a performance.
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Definition
B2Theater
(formal)To bend forward at the waist to acknowledge applause.
Example
- After the final act, the actors came forward to take a bow.
B2General
(idiomatic)To accept praise or recognition for an achievement.
Example
- The project was a huge success, and the team was told to take a bow.
B2General
(sarcasm)To take credit or blame for a specific outcome, often used ironically.
Example
- You broke the system again? Take a bow.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "take a bow":
make one's bowbow downbow and scrapetake a kneetake the falltake a breathtake one's hat off totake one's leave