take a bow

idiom

: to bow towards an audience that is applauding
When the play has finished, the actors will line up to take a bow.
often used figuratively to say that someone deserves to be praised
The people who organized the festival should take a bow for its remarkable success.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Scherzinger, in waist-enhancing blue gown, eked every ounce of drama from the song, prompting Lang Lang to rush over and take a bow with her at the end of the catwalk. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 7 May 2023 The Grizzlies called a timeout, allowing Russell to take a bow, his hands motioning to the crowd. Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2023 Lockport 14-3 (8) Giuliana Giordano, take a bow after going 3-for-3 with a home run vs. Lincoln-Way West. Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2023 Inflation is showing signs of normalizing, but Paul Krugman and Team Transitory should not take a bow. Patrick Horan, National Review, 26 Jan. 2023 While San Antonio has courted plenty of hip-hop, metal and rock royalty (take a bow Beyoncé, Black Sabbath and Bruce Springsteen), several notable artists and bands still have not, or never will, set foot on a 210 stage. René A. Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Jan. 2023 The helm, now as stylish and advanced as the rest of the vessel, can rightfully take a bow. Gemma Harris, Robb Report, 3 Dec. 2022 Complete the stack and take a bow, but be careful not to topple the tower. Marylou Tousignant, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2022 This small city set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is a great hub from which to see southern leaves take a bow. Forrest Brown, CNN, 21 Aug. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take a bow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Cite this Entry

“Take a bow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20a%20bow. Accessed 29 May. 2023.

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