knuckle under

British  

verb

1. (intr, adverb) to give way under pressure or authority; yield

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knuckle under Idioms  

1. Also, knuckle down. Give in, acknowledge defeat, as in The dean refused to knuckle under to the graduate students' demands, or He was forced to knuckle down before their threats of violence. Presumably this idiom alludes to a kneeling position with hands on the ground, knuckles down. [Mid-1700s]

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Example Sentences

And man, that idea, that image of 22 public integrity lawyers locked in a room like truant children until they knuckle under, and somebody is going to file it.

From Slate • Feb. 14, 2025

Tesla recalled 21,599 China-made Model Ys in December, saying a suspension link may fall out of the steering knuckle under extreme stress conditions.

From Reuters • Feb. 17, 2022

Each, as it turned out, expected the other to knuckle under.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 3, 2021

“That’s the point of diplomacy over military conflict. But it doesn’t advance America’s interest to knuckle under or brush aside significant threats to our security or our allies’ security.”

From Washington Post • Jun. 27, 2018

“What did you expect me to do with that electrified scarecrow? I’m not going to knuckle under to any do-jigger I put together myself.”

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov