tremble and obey
The phrase "tremble and obey" originates from historical and political contexts, particularly related to Chinese governance, and signifies fear-driven compliance.
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Definition
C1Political Authority
(idiomatic, historical, formal)To unthinkingly follow commands or directives out of fear, often associated with government or authoritative figures.
Example
- Under the regime, citizens were expected to tremble and obey without question.
- The proclamation demanded that all subjects tremble and obey the new laws.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "tremble and obey":