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take a bow

Idioms  
  1. Acknowledge praise or applause, as in The conductor asked the composer to take a bow. This idiom uses bow in the sense of “inclining the body or head as a token of salutation.” [c. 1800]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

If imitation truly is the sincerest form of flattery, perhaps Americans should take a bow.

From The Wall Street Journal Feb. 12, 2026

Not everyone has the choice, but you do, so take a bow.

From MarketWatch Feb. 5, 2026

"Absolutely, I had my tears at our final meeting where we joined hands and stood up. I said 'We still did great, take a bow."

From BBC Jun. 2, 2025

As attendees began chanting his name, McBrain rose from his drum set to take a bow.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 9, 2024

After I belt out that final note, I take a bow and walk offstage—gracefully, of course.

From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles

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